Your sense of smell and
taste change as you
age. Between the ages of 40 and 50, the number of
taste buds decreases, and the rest begin to shrink, losing mass vital to their operation. After
age 60, you may begin to lose the ability to distinguish the
taste of sweet, salty, sour, and bitter
foods.How
Aging Affects the Senses. Typically
taste bud cells are replaced every week or two, but after
age 50, these cells begin to lose their sensitivity and ability to regenerate. Olfactory nerve endings and mucus production in the nose may also decline, weakening one's sense of smell.
