As people age, what happens to the number of taste buds?

As individuals age, there is a general trend of a decrease in the number of taste buds. This reduction is attributed to various physiological changes that occur with aging, which can include diminishing function of the tongue and decline in overall sensory perception. A smaller number of taste buds can contribute to changes in how flavors are perceived, potentially leading to a diminished sense of taste over time. This decline is accompanied by other factors such as the health of the oral environment, medication effects, and potential damage to taste bud neurons, all of which contribute to an overall decrease in taste sensitivity as one gets older.