Aging changes in the senses

Indoor glare, such as glare from a shiny floor in a sunlit room, can also make it difficult to get around inside.

For people of all ages, it is harder to distinguish blues and greens than it is to distinguish reds and yellows. This becomes even more pronounced with aging. As your age increases, using warm contrasting colors (yellow, orange, and red) in your home can improve your ability to tell where things are and makes it easier to perform daily activities.

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Many older people find that keeping a red light on in darkened rooms (such as the hallway or bathroom) makes it easier to see than using a "regular" night light. Red light produces less glare than a regular incandescent bulb.

With aging, the fluid inside your eye may change. Small particles can create "floaters" in your vision. Although annoying, floaters oftentimes do not indicate a dangerous condition and usually do not reduce vision. If you suddenly develop floaters or experience a rapid increase in the number of them, you should definitely have your eyes checked by a professional.

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.