Final answer:
The condition involving the lack of the sense of taste is known as ageusia. Anosmia, the loss of the sense of smell, can also lead to food tasting bland but does not directly affect the taste buds. Ageusia can be distinguished from anosmia, which is often accompanied by added mental health concerns due to decreased enjoyment of food.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medical term for the condition involving the lack of the sense of taste is ageusia. However, it's crucial to differentiate between ageusia and anosmia, which is the loss of the sense of smell. While both conditions can lead to a perception of food tasting bland, anosmia does not affect the gustatory sense directly. Adding certain ingredients such as salt can enhance the gustatory experience even when the olfactory sense is impaired, but this comes with the risk of increased sodium intake, potentially leading to cardiovascular concerns.
Anosmia is often linked to an impaired enjoyment of food and can lead to symptoms of mild depression due to a decreased pleasure in eating. This condition is somewhat age-related, as the regeneration of olfactory neurons decreases with time, leading to a diminished sense of smell.