Review Question - QID 109098

A 69-year-old man presents to his primary care physician for a general checkup. Overall he is doing well. Since he retired, he has been working on projects at home and taking time to exercise every day. He eats a balanced diet and has been spending time with his wife every evening. Despite this, the patient claims that he feels less well-rested when he wakes up in the morning. The patient states that he used to sleep 9 hours a night in his youth and felt excellent. Now he sleeps 7 hours a night and doesn’t feel as well rested as he used to. The patient’s wife states that he seems to sleep peacefully. His medical history is significant for hypertension and diabetes for which he takes lisinopril and metformin. His temperature is 98.6°F (37°C), blood pressure is 131/85 mmHg, pulse is 71/min, and respirations are 12/min. His neurological exam is within normal limits. The patient is muscular and has a healthy weight with a pleasant demeanor. He denies feeling fatigued or tired currently. Which of the following physiological changes would most likely be seen in this patient?