Which aging change involves reductions in endurance?

• A. Hormonal changes
• B. Immune changes
• C. Musculoskeletal changes
• D. Reduced stamina & cardiovascular respiratory endurance

Answer: (D)

Endurance is the ability to sustain activity over time, and it relies heavily on the efficiency of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels—the cardiovascular-respiratory system. As people age, this system tends to become less capable of delivering oxygen to working muscles, reflected in a lower VO2 max, slower heart-rate response, and reduced lung function. Those changes together produce a noticeable drop in stamina during prolonged activities. The phrase “reduced stamina & cardiovascular-respiratory endurance” directly describes this pattern, making it the best fit for what typically changes with aging.

Hormonal changes, immune changes, and musculoskeletal changes all occur with aging and can influence overall health and performance, but they don’t specify the core decline in the ability to sustain aerobic activity.