As we age, our senses begin to dull. Our eyesight becomes worse and worse, and we start to find a need for glasses, even after a lifetime of 20/20 vision. It becomes more difficult to focus on news in the newspaper or enjoy some light reading without having to squint and struggle to see. Our taste buds become desensitized and our favorite foods that we once loved become bland and tasteless. We also experience a gradual loss of hearing. The notes and tunes of our favorite songs become less distinct and, even with a hearing aid, turn into a jumbled mess. The once calming sounds of ocean waves or chirping birds become almost inaudible. As a result of these sensory declinations, our daily lives, previously filled with little pleasures of delightful sights and sounds gradually become less enjoyable. To this day, scientists have yet to discover a way to completely reverse these tragic aging effects; however, with continued research, they have been able to study the developmental aspects of our sensory receptors which could eventually lead to a cure that could significantly change the health of and medical care for the elderly.
Andrea Zhang (Fri,) studied this question.