Fortify Your Five Senses

We all hope to live to the fullest, embracing precious time with loved ones and taking in everything life has to offer. But to do so for as long as possible, you’ll need to invest in your five senses. While these abilities decline with age, there are some proactive steps you can take to maintain them no matter how old you are—and the sooner you begin, the better.

Taste

The sense that makes indulging in a slice of cake or pizza oh-so enjoyable can sadly diminish. “As we age, our taste buds shrink and decrease in number,” registered dietitian Ruth Franklin writes for Henry Ford Health. While you can’t necessarily stop this decline, you could help moderate it. For instance, stay on top of daily brushing and flossing as well as annual professional cleanings to better prevent gum disease, which may damage your taste receptors. If you do develop it, seek treatment right away; do the same with other potentially taste-tapering conditions, including infections.

Saliva production is also key, so request an alternative if you’re taking any medicine that lists dry mouth as a side effect, including some for treating pain or depression. And if you need another reason to avoid smoking, this may be it.

Smell

This sense is so closely tied with taste that many people confuse the loss of one with the loss of the other. Like our taste buds, our nasal nerves gradually weaken, affecting our ability to smell and even detect flavors.

For protection, be sure to get enough zinc from foods like potatoes, leafy greens, and beans; this mineral is essential to a well-functioning sense of smell. Further, if you notice a sudden change, talk to your doctor. You may be experiencing a problem like an infection or polyps, both of which can impact your nasal passages but are treatable.

Touch

Almost nothing is as heartwarming as giving a loved one a hug, so take care of your skin and its various nerves to safeguard your sense of touch. One of your top priorities should be preventing paresthesia, a common and potentially chronic condition whose symptoms include numbness and tingling. Since pinched nerves are a leading cause, aim to practice good posture, minimize repetitive movements like typing, and exercise caution when lifting heavy weight.

Additionally, say no to skin-damaging activities, including sunbathing, excessive alcohol consumption, and—you guessed it—smoking. And to defend your long-term skin sensitivity, limit exposure to extreme temperatures by bundling up in cold weather and avoiding spending long sessions in hot environments such as saunas. Though you may notice a natural decline in sensation over time, especially on hairless points like your palms, you don’t have to lose your touch in your senior years with these precautions.

Hearing

Sadly, our favorite music, our loved ones’ voices, and vital cues such as car honks could eventually fall silent to us. According to the NIH, one in three adults between ages sixty-five and seventy-four experiences some degree of hearing loss. Your own likelihood of it can depend on factors beyond your influence, such as a family history of this issue, alongside some that you can control, including your habits and lifestyle.

First, take steps to prevent noise-induced hearing loss: avoid exposure to damaging sounds such as fireworks and loud music (or wear protection) and set volume limits on your devices when wearing headphones. Second, talk to your doctor about alternatives for medications that have been known to cause hearing problems. While there is no cure for this type of loss, it’s not all negative; this is one of the easiest senses to bolster thanks to hearing aids, which are more advanced than ever.

Sight

People of any age—even children—can experience vision impairment, and everyone can expect their sight to decline over time and their risk for eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma to increase. To mitigate such loss, adopt preventative practices as early as possible. For one, be sure to see an eye doctor annually, especially if you have a family history of eye-related medical issues. Professionals can spot and treat health concerns before you begin developing symptoms.

Surprisingly, another way to preserve your vision is to stay active; exercise can help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and lower blood pressure, conditions that may contribute to vision decline. Eat plenty of eye-healthy foods, too, including leafy-green vegetables and omega-3-rich fish like salmon and tuna. Just as crucially, wear eye protection in the sun and while driving to reduce the impact of sunlight’s damaging UV rays. And, once more, there’s reason to stay away from smoking: this habit has been known to cause macular degeneration and cataracts, which both damage your vision.

If you’re concerned about unusual symptoms regarding any of your senses, talk to your doctor or a specialist. Working together, you can formulate a health plan to better protect these faculties for the years ahead.