Aging changes in the senses

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Aged eye anatomy	Aging changes in hearing	Hearing aids	Sense of sight
Tongue

When your eyes are examined, you may not be able to move your eye in all directions. Your upward gaze may be limited. The area in which objects can be seen (visual field) gets smaller.

Reduced peripheral vision is common and can limit social interaction and activity. Older people may not communicate with people sitting next to them because they cannot see them well -- or perhaps at all. Food and drinks may be spilled. Driving can become dangerous.

Common eye disorders in the elderly (changes that are NOT normal) include cataracts, glaucoma, senile macular degeneration, and diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy.

TASTE AND SMELL

The senses of taste and smell interact closely, helping you appreciate food. Most taste really comes from odors. The sense of smell begins at nerve receptors high in the membranes of the nose.

You have approximately 9,000 taste buds. Your taste buds are primarily responsible for sensing sweet, salty, sour, and bitter tastes.

Smell (and to a lesser extent, taste) also play a role in both safety and enjoyment. We detect certain dangers, such as spoiled food, noxious gases, and smoke with taste and smell. A delicious meal or pleasant aroma can improve social interaction and enjoyment of life.

The number of taste buds decreases beginning at about age 40 to 50 in women and at 50 to 60 in men. Each remaining taste bud also begins to atrophy (lose mass). The sensitivity to the four taste sensations does not seem to decrease until after age 60, if at all. If taste sensation is lost, usually salty and sweet tastes are lost first, with bitter and sour tastes lasting slightly longer.

Additionally, your mouth produces less saliva as you age. This causes dry mouth, which can make swallowing more difficult. It also makes digestion slightly less efficient and can increase dental problems.

The sense of smell may diminish, especially after age 70. This may be related to loss of nerve endings in the nose.

Studies about the cause of decreased sense of taste and smell with aging have conflicting results. Some studies have indicated that normal aging by itself produces very little change in taste and smell. Rather, changes may be related to diseases, smoking, and environmental exposures over a lifetime.