Is it true that when you are older, your nerves are weaker and so is your ability to feel physical pain?

[523206720]

My deceased grandma's roommate of 10 years and best friend for longer was told years ago that she had cancer but she kept denying it and did not seem to show any symptoms of cancer. My parents said the older you are, the less illness hurts you because your nerves are weaker and so is your sense of touch and taste. Is this true? It gives me hope that maybe when I'm old if I get sick, I won't feel too much pain either.

[Cobalt]

I've never heard that before, either in support of the idea or refuting it. Personally I would not think that something like that would happen. The ability to feel pain is an important survival trait, and its one of the hardest things to make your body get accustomed to. I remember years ago in high school we had a discussion about how its one of the hardest sensations to grow accustomed to.

On the other hand, as you age you likely feel more aches and pains due to injuries you may have accumulated over the years, or due to your body wearing out. If you're already in more pain regularly than you were when you were younger then it likely would need to be fairly substantial additional pain to really register the difference. Or elderly people may assume its something else, or just not want to cause a fuss over it.

[JustinCaseUDontKnow]

It seems with me that illnesses or thought of being ill doesn't seem to bother me like it did when i was a teen and into my early 20's so there may be some truth to it who knows.

[JustinCaseUDontKnow]

Thank You for MHO:) :D

[9mfeo]

Maybe, but it takes a really long time for nerve cells to die.