How do seniors lose their taste buds?

Think of tastebuds being like a tire. Tires do not last a lifetime, the tread (tastebuds) get worn down.

Taste buds get old and die off. The taste buds for sweet are among the last to go, which is why many older people love sweets. If your loved one liked salt, you've probably noticed they put more and more on their food. This can be terrible if they have hypertension. Life just isn't fair to older people. When they get to the point they should be able to enjoy life, the blood pressure goes up and the taste buds die off. Their hearing, vision, and sense of smell go south. Wouldn't it be nice if the opposite happened so they could enjoy things more?

Has she taken Amiodarone for cardiac issues? Our neurologist told us Amiodarone can cause loss of taste and sense of smell.