1. Changes in foot size

According to Sabrina Minhas, assistant clinical professor at the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, it's possible for a person's feet to change size as they age.

As we age, the ligaments, tendons, and muscles that support the arches within our feet can get weaker, which can cause the arch to gradually descend, Minhas said. As a result, our feet can become longer and wider, which can alter your shoe size.

Gaining weight or becoming pregnant can also change your shoe size, Minhas added. "I tell patients, 'Don't get too attached to the shoe you wore when you were 15 years younger,'" she said.

2. Foot pain when walking on flat surfaces

Minhas also said that as people age, they can start experiencing pain while walking on flat surfaces.

According to Minhas, the fat pads under your heel and the ball of your foot tend to diminish as you age and are less effective at cushioning your bones.

"My older patients have very little fat on their feet, and they will tell me that walking barefoot on a hard floor feels as though they are walking directly on their bones or on pebbles," Minhas said.

She recommends patients wear slippers or sandals with sturdy foot support while at home.

3. Itchier skin

As we get older, our skin gets drier, thinner, and can develop small cracks which can lead to inflammation and itchiness, according to Saranya Wyles, a dermatologist and specialist in regenerative medicine.

Itchy skin is one of the most common reasons older adults see a dermatologist, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

"I have some patients who say, 'I don't sleep a wink at night, I'm so uncomfortable,'" said Daniel Butler, director of the Inflammatory and Aging Skin Research Program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson.

4. A slower heart rate during exercise

Your resting heart rate generally stays the same as you age, but your maximum heart rate will slow during physical activity, according to James Sawalla Guseh, director of the Cardiovascular Performance Program at the Mass General Brigham Heart & Vascular Institute.

The reason why this occurs isn't entirely understood. However, it could be that "your heart's natural pacemaker, called the sinus node, has a tendency to slow down with age," Guseh said, adding that your heart's ability to respond to signals from your nervous system may also get slower as you age.

If you notice a sudden and unexpected change in your heart rate during exercise, shortness of breath, or feel as if "your heart rate is consistently higher than usual for the same amount of effort," you should see a doctor, Guseh said.

5. A diminishing sense of taste

Sometimes as we get older, our sense of taste can diminish, according to Lisa Walke, professor and chief of geriatric medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

In one study from 2025, researchers conducted taste tests with 1,392 healthy people ages 10 to 94 and found the ability to perceive flavors started to decline in the 30s and substantially dropped after age 60.

However, adding more salt might not be the answer if you notice your food getting more bland, Walke said.

"You want to be mindful if you do this, particularly if you have medical conditions such as high blood pressure," she said. If you need to add flavor, Walke advised looking at safer options like herbs and spices, lemon, or salt substitutes.