Final answer:
An increase in serum albumin is not a normal physiological change associated with aging. Instead, aging commonly leads to decreases in muscle mass, total body water, and the body's metabolic rate, among other changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Normal physiologic changes that occur with aging include a decrease in muscle mass, a decrease in total body water, and an increase in gastric pH. However, an increase in serum albumin is not typically a physiologic change observed with aging. Instead, the body experiences alterations that can affect the level of various blood components.
For instance, aging is associated with a rise in the non-protein nitrogen of blood, a rise in the plasma protein concentration, and a rise in the concentration of chloride. Tissues, including muscle, lose mass through a process called atrophy, and the body's metabolic rate decreases.
The loss of muscle mass and decrease in physical activity can lead to further declines in metabolism, making it a cyclical decline. Aging also leads to changes in the endocrine system, affecting hormone production, secretion, and breakdown.