Ages and Stages

The effectiveness of the systems that regulate acid-base balance varies with age. For example, an infant's kidneys can't acidify urine as well as an adult's can. Also, the respiratory system of an older adult may be compromised and, therefore, less able to regulate acid-base balance. In addition, because ammonia production decreases with age, the kidneys of an older adult can't handle excess acid as well as the kidneys of a younger adult. Damaged kidneys or lungs (at any age) impair the body's ability to maintain acid-base balance (Harris, 2022).