An Elderly Patient Has Presented to the Clinic with a New

An elderly patient has presented to the clinic with a new diagnosis of osteoarthritis. The patients daughter is accompanying him and you have explained why the incidence of chronic diseases tends to increase with age. What rationale for this phenomenon should you describe?

A) With age, biologic changes reduce the efficiency of body systems.
B) Older adults often have less support and care from their family, resulting in illness.
C) There is an increased morbidity of peers in this age group, and this leads to the older adults desire to also assume the sick role.
D) Chronic illnesses are diagnosed more often in older adults because they have more contact with the health care system.