The human body develops less tolerance to alcohol with aging. Choose the statement that best matches this idea.

The human body develops less tolerance to alcohol with aging. Choose the statement that best matches this idea.

• A. The human body develops less tolerance to alcohol with aging
• B. The human body develops more tolerance to alcohol with aging
• C. Tolerance is unaffected by age
• D. Tolerance fluctuates randomly with age

Answer: (A)

As people age, the body’s response to alcohol often becomes more pronounced, so tolerance tends to drop. This happens because alcohol is distributed in body water, and older adults typically have less total body water and more body fat, so the same amount of alcohol produces a higher and longer-lasting blood alcohol concentration. The liver’s ability to metabolize alcohol often slows with age, and slower gastric emptying plus reduced kidney function let alcohol linger longer. These physiological changes mean the same drink causes stronger effects, making the idea of needing more to achieve the same effect less accurate.

As people age, the body’s response to alcohol often becomes more pronounced, so tolerance tends to drop. This happens because alcohol is distributed in body water, and older adults typically have less total body water and more body fat, so the same amount of alcohol produces a higher and longer-lasting blood alcohol concentration. The liver’s ability to metabolize alcohol often slows with age, and slower gastric emptying plus reduced kidney function let alcohol linger longer. These physiological changes mean the same drink causes stronger effects, making the idea of needing more to achieve the same effect less accurate.