As red blood cells age, which statement is NOT true about them?

As red blood cells age, they undergo several physiological changes. These changes include a reduction in membrane flexibility, which affects their ability to navigate through small capillaries and eventually leads to their removal from circulation. The concentration of hemoglobin within the red blood cells remains relatively stable, but as they age and lose membrane integrity or undergo other changes, there might be alterations in cellular composition, although the total hemoglobin content adjusts minimally.

Glycolysis and other enzymatic activities indeed decrease as the cells age, mainly due to diminished enzyme function and changes in the red blood cell membrane, affecting their metabolic capacity.

In contrast to the option that was deemed correct, aged red blood cells actually become more susceptible to phagocytosis. This is because older red blood cells often display altered membrane properties that signal their deteriorating health, making them more recognizable to macrophages and other cells in the reticuloendothelial system for removal. Therefore, the statement that they become less prone to phagocytosis is incorrect because it does not align with the physiological realities of aged red blood cells.