Located in the middle of the retina, the macula controls central vision. The chief symptom is blurred central vision, which can become progressively worse and ultimately lead to the inability to read. Although ARMD rarely progresses to complete blindness, it often leads to functional blindness. Hearing diminishes in men more rapidly than it does in women, especially for higher tones. The possible effects of aging on taste and smell are unclear as of yet.
Many studies find that some people retain much of their sense of taste and smell well into maturity.
Smoking and drinking, however, are known to desensitize taste buds and suppress the sense of smell. Inc. All rights reserved.