A nurse is collecting history from a middle-aged patient. The nurse should expect decreases in which physiologic function?

A nurse is collecting history from a middle-aged patient. The nurse should expect decreases in which physiologic function?

• A. Metabolism
• B. Ability to hear low-pitched sounds
• C. Gastric secretions
• D. Far vision

Answer: (A)

As people age, basal metabolic rate tends to decline, especially in middle adulthood. This drop is linked to loss of lean body mass, changes in hormones, and often lower physical activity, all of which reduce the body’s energy needs. So when taking a history from a middle-aged patient, you’d expect decreases in metabolic function to be a common finding, influencing energy level, weight management, and how medications are processed. Hearing changes in middle age aren’t typically a reduction in low-pitched sound perception. Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) usually hits higher frequencies first, so the ability to hear low-pitched sounds is often preserved. Far vision, or distance vision, is generally maintained in middle age; the more noticeable change is near vision (presbyopia), not far vision. Gastric secretions can vary with age, but the most consistent, broad change in this age group is the decrease in metabolic rate.

As people age, basal metabolic rate tends to decline, especially in middle adulthood. This drop is linked to loss of lean body mass, changes in hormones, and often lower physical activity, all of which reduce the body’s energy needs. So when taking a history from a middle-aged patient, you’d expect decreases in metabolic function to be a common finding, influencing energy level, weight management, and how medications are processed.

Hearing changes in middle age aren’t typically a reduction in low-pitched sound perception. Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) usually hits higher frequencies first, so the ability to hear low-pitched sounds is often preserved.

Far vision, or distance vision, is generally maintained in middle age; the more noticeable change is near vision (presbyopia), not far vision. Gastric secretions can vary with age, but the most consistent, broad change in this age group is the decrease in metabolic rate.