Technology use may be associated with a lower risk for dementia, study finds
A variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications also impact smell and taste. Consult with your doctor as to whether there are alternative medications that don't present the same side effects.
You need a certain amount of stimulation before your brain registers sensations, and that threshold level increases with age. Meaning the older you get, the more input you need to make sense of your surroundings. But this doesn’t have to compromise your quality of life.
Wax buildup increases with age, so having the wax removed can dramatically improve your hearing.
Some ingredient to consider include sharper cheeses, sun-dried tomatoes, onion, garlic, and flavored vinegar.
Don't automatically assume that a decline in your senses is just part of growing older. Any sudden change can be a warning sign of a disease or condition that needs treatment. Always speak to a medical professional.
Sources: (National Geographic) (MedlinePlus) (RUSH)
See also: Things that are damaging your hearing, and how to protect it
Control background noises that make hearing harder. For example, if you're trying to talk to someone, turn off the TV or lower the volume of your music.
Aging also changes the structures in your ear. You might not be able to pick up sounds as easily, and you might also notice difficulties in maintaining your balance. This is all connected.
Also, the more your body has the experience of moving, the more those receptors will stay active and useful.
Diabetes puts you at risk for hearing loss. Protect your hearing by maintaining a healthy weight, and managing your blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
The lens can harden, which changes the path of light into your eye. Eye muscles begin to degenerate, which impacts your ability to rotate your eyes.
Taste buds decrease in size and number, and your sensitivity to each of the five tastes begins to decline. The five tastes are sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami.
Try to avoid colds by frequently washing your hands. And if you have allergies, try to limit contact with whatever you're allergic to.
In addition, many people notice periodic ringing or buzzing, known as tinnitus. These changes can trigger negative health effects such as isolation, cognitive impairment, and depression.
Some medical conditions can affect your ability to taste, so make sure you manage things like high blood pressure and inflammatory bowel disease.
There’s not much you can do to slow down a declining sense of touch. Instead, try to support your skin and nerve endings by indulging in a monthly massage, and slather on lotions and oils.
Rather than adding salt, which can raise blood pressure, or sugar, which adds calories, give your food some flavor with herbs and spices.
Taste and smell go hand in hand, and they both fade as we age. The sense of smell diminishes because there are fewer nerve endings and less mucus in your nasal cavity.
Wear sunglasses with lenses that block UV and UVB radiation. It's also recommended to wear goggles to shield your eyes against liquids, irritating mists, fumes, and chemical splash.
Research has shown that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and low in fat and cholesterol, can prevent vision loss.
Aging affects every area of the eye. The cornea becomes more sensitive and vulnerable to injury. Also, the pupil begins to respond more slowly to variations in light and darkness.
Using brighter lighting throughout your home, plus bright lamps for tasks like reading, can help boost your vision. You might also install motion lights that turn on when you enter a room, since aging eyes have a harder time adjusting to darkness.
If you’re in an environment where you have to yell to be heard, you should be wearing ear protection. This applies even if you don't yet have hearing loss.
This means when you finally do sense the pain, your reaction time isn't as fast. Older people are therefore more vulnerable to cold and burn injuries, as well as pressure ulcers.
Aging impacts the nerve endings involved with pain, pressure, temperature, and vibration. As you age, you may have more difficulty sensing extreme cold or heat.
No big surprise here! Avoid smoking and alcohol, as both can sabotage your taste buds.
So, what can we do to protect our senses? Click on to find out.
How your senses change as you age, and how to protect them
Did you know your five senses can change over time?
HEALTH Aging
It's a fact of life that when we age, our senses change as well. Our hearing, vision, taste, smell, and touch become less sharp, and these sensory changes can affect our lifestyles. Our vision declines, and our hearing gets worse. Also, our brains don’t react as quickly as they used to, and we may have problems communicating, enjoying activities, and interacting with people. Sensory changes can also lead to isolation.
So, what can we do to protect our senses? Click on to find out.