GMS 6489 – Aging and the Senses

Course Description

In Aging and the Senses, you’ll explore how aging transforms the way we experience the world – from hearing and vision to balance, taste and touch – and what we can do to improve those outcomes.

You’ll build a foundation in the biological foundations of sensory aging while going beyond the science to understand its real-world impact. How do sensory changes affect communication, independence and cognitive health? What role do they play in isolation, falls or dementia? And most importantly, what can we do about it?

Throughout the course, you’ll examine how aging affects major sensory systems—including the auditory (hearing), visual (vision), olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste) and somatosensory systems (touch, temperature, vibration, body position and pain) – and why these shifts occur. You’ll also explore why sensory function often declines with age and how these changes can impact daily functioning, communication, independence and quality of life, while increasing the risk of isolation, falls, depression and dementia. Evidence-based strategies, from nutrition and exercise to emerging lifestyle interventions that can help reserve sensory function and support healthier aging will be investigated.

By the end of the course, you won’t just understand how aging affects the senses; you’ll be equipped to think differently about how we support healthier, more connected lives.

Course Goals

The goals of the course are to:

1. Understand the biological foundations of sensory aging: analyze and understand how aging affects major sensory systems, with emphasis on behavioral, physiological, and cellular changes during aging.
2. Evaluate evidence-based strategies for promoting sensory health: critically assess current and emerging intervention strategies – from lifestyle interventions to longevity science –   that aim to prevent or mitigate age-related sensory decline, preserving daily function, communication, and independence, and promoting sensory and cognitive health.
3. Apply aging science to real-world challenges: translate research into practical strategies and interventions that improve communication, independence and quality of life across healthcare, community and wellness settings.