Final answer:
The nurse will most likely find decreased hearing acuity as a normal aging-related physiological change in a 40-year-old client. Decreased sense of smell and strength of abdominal muscles are also age-related changes, but less likely at the age of 40. Decreased cranial nerve function could indicate more severe health issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse performing the physical examination on a 40-year-old adult client will most likely find decreased hearing acuity as a physiological change related to normal aging. Decreased sense of smell is also a change attributable to aging, but typically emerges in later years, while decreased function of the various cranial nerves might suggest more severe problems unrelated to normal aging. Finally, decreased strength of abdominal muscles can occur, but it is not as directly related to age as changes in smell and hearing.
During middle adulthood, which extends from the 40s to the 60s, physical decline is gradual. Signs such as skin losing some elasticity and the appearance of wrinkles are common. Specifically, sensory changes, including the deterioration in hearing, often begin in this stage, hence it is more likely for a 40-year-old to experience decreased hearing acuity as part of the normal aging process.