Aging Changes in the Senses

See all Pictures & Images

Touch, vibration, and pain

The sense of touch also includes awareness of vibrations and pain. The skin, muscles, tendons, joints, and internal organs have receptors that detect touch, temperature, or pain.

Your brain interprets the type and amount of touch sensation. It also interprets the sensation as pleasant (such as being comfortably warm), unpleasant (such as being very hot) or neutral (such as being aware that you are touching something).

Medications, brain surgery, problems in the brain, confusion, and nerve damage from trauma or chronic diseases such as diabetes can change this interpretation without changing awareness of the sensation. For example, you may feel and recognize a painful sensation, but it does not bother you.

Some of the receptors give the brain information about the position and condition of internal organs. Even though you may not be consciously aware of this information, it helps to identify changes (for example, the pain of appendicitis).

Many studies have shown that with aging, you may have reduced or changed sensations of pain, vibration, cold, heat, pressure, and touch. It is hard to tell whether these changes are related to aging itself or to the disorders that occur more often in the elderly.

It may be that some of the "normal" changes of aging are caused by decreased blood flow to the touch receptors or to the brain and spinal cord. Minor dietary deficiencies, such as decreased thiamine levels, may also be a cause of changes.

Regardless of the cause, many people experience changes in the touch-related sensations as they age. You may find it harder, for example, to tell the difference between cool and cold. Decreased temperature sensitivity increases the risk of injuries such as frostbite, hypothermia, and burns.

Reduced ability to detect vibration, touch, and pressure increases the risk of injuries, including pressure ulcers. After age 50, many people have reduced sensitivity to pain. You may develop problems with walking because of reduced ability to perceive where your body is in relation to the floor.

Fine touch may decrease. However, some people develop an increased sensitivity to light touch because of thinner skin (especially people older than 70).

To increase safety, make allowances for changes in touch-related sensations:

• Limit the maximum water temperature in your house (there is an adjustment on the water heater) to reduce the risk of burns.
• Look at the thermometer to decide how to dress rather than waiting until you feel overheated or chilled.
• Inspect your skin (especially your feet) for injuries, and if you find an injury, treat it. Don't assume that just because an area is not painful, the injury is not significant.