How Our Senses Change As We Age: Taste

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As we continue our series of articles about how our senses change with age, this seems like the perfect month to consider our sense of taste. After all, the holiday season is filled with opportunities to enjoy an array of delicious foods.

Unfortunately, it’s normal for our taste buds to lose some of their sensitivity as we enter our 50s or 60s. This is because our taste buds begin to shrink in size. In addition, they regenerate less often as we grow older.

Besides aging, other factors can also affect our sense of taste. These include:

• Neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease
• Medications that cause metallic or bitter tastes in the mouth
• Smoking
• Decreased saliva production leading to a dry mouth
• Dental problems such as gum disease

Why is this a problem?

A decline in one’s sense of taste can lead to a variety of issues. These include:

• Poor nutrition
• Excess weight loss or weight gain
• Using too much salt or sugar on food
• Less enjoyment of social activities involving food

How can we help?

A decline in the sense of taste doesn’t mean that our residents can no longer experience the joy of eating. Here are 6 steps you can take to help residents compensate for these changes:

1.  Part of the enjoyment of eating involves how our food looks and feels. Serving foods with a variety of textures (crunchy, creamy, etc.) can help. It’s also important to create meals that are colorful and attractive.

2.  You’re probably aware that our sense of smell plays an enormous part in how our food tastes. Unfortunately, this sense also declines with age. You can find more information about how to compensate for changes in the sense of smell in this previous post.

3.  Good oral hygiene is crucial to prevent gum disease and other dental problems that can affect the sense of taste.

4.  Learn how to use healthy herbs and spices to enhance the flavor of meals. This helps prevent the overuse of sugar and salt which could be dangerous in conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.

5.  A positive social environment and attractive surroundings can also make food taste better. For creative approaches used at other senior living communities, be sure to check out this article.

6. If you suspect a decline in the sense of taste may be related to medications, consult a medical provider or pharmacist. They can often recommend a change in the type or dosage of a medication.

 

Be sure to come back next month when we’ll look at the sense of sight. In the meantime, please let me know in the comment section if you have other tips to share with my readers!