How Your Sense of Touch Changes as You Age

Over the past few years, Steven Fiore, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon in Midlothian, Virginia, has noticed a gradual dulling of his sense of touch. “It does affect me—sometimes when I grab a hot pan handle, I don’t feel the heat as quickly, which makes burns more of a risk,” says Fiore, 69. Swiping on his iPad has also become more difficult. “I need to press more deliberately,” adds Fiore. Hugs feel different, too: “They’re less vivid, almost like there’s a barrier between me and the sensation.” This change, he says, has been frustrating, and he’s still trying to adapt.

Our sense of touch changes with age, but it’s not something most of us recognize, at least at first. When patients show up at the office of Ardeshir Hashmi, M.D., complaining of dropping objects, difficulties swiping on their devices or sustaining more household injuries, they may think it’s due to something like arthritis. But Hashmi, section chief of Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Geriatric Medicine, often finds these issues stem from reduced skin sensitivity and nervous system changes that can occur with age.

3 things to expect

One study found that among people 57 to 64, more than 60 percent had a measurable impairment in their sense of touch. This often appears initially as a bit of additional clumsiness or difficulty grasping objects.

“It’s like my brain tells my fingers to do something — like 'type this on my phone' — and then they randomly hit all the wrong letters,” says Lisa Theriault, 57, a writer in Nova Scotia. Tasks that used to be quick and easy, like pinching the clasp on her dog’s lead to attach to the collar, now take her several tries. “I make a point of not taking wide glasses or mugs from the cupboard because I’m afraid I’ll drop one,” says Theriault.

1. You don’t perceive danger as quickly

As the largest organ in the body, our skin is packed with nerve receptors that allow us to feel pain, temperature and vibrations and help identify our body position within our environment. But starting in our 50s, these nerve receptors begin to change, with the nerve endings responsible for pain and temperature often changing first, Hashmi says. As a result, these nerve endings become less effective at providing us with the early warnings we need. “Often people either don’t notice it — or notice it in a very extreme circumstance,” he explains. “They try to pick up something really hot and end up burning themselves.” This could lead to increased household injuries, as you’re more likely to grab something and not feel that it’s hot enough or sharp enough to let go of as fast as you did in your younger years.

2. You might become a bit more clumsy

A 2022 study found older adults tend to have slower tactile responses (the ability to feel and notice sensations on the skin, like pressure, temperature or texture). “Nerve conduction slows, meaning signals from the skin take longer to reach the brain,” says Raveesh Sunkara, a neurosurgeon in Hyderabad, India. The fingertips or soles of the feet—where touch receptors are highly concentrated — are the most affected, he says. “This is why older adults might struggle with activities requiring precise touch, like buttoning a shirt, or feel less stable when walking on uneven surfaces,” adds Sunkara. “Foot sensitivity often declines first, affecting balance and increasing fall risk.”

3. Screens may get harder to operate

Fine-­motor movements are affected by age, Hashmi says. “Our sensation is changing, and we’re not as nimble.” This, combined with drier skin, can contribute to making operating touchscreen devices, typing and performing tasks that require fine-­motor skills more difficult.