[Functional dyspepsia in the aged]

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a very common syndrome in general population which does not spare the elderly. To define the pathophysiology of FD (GI secretion and motility, visceral sensitivity, psyche) in the elderly proves to be a difficult task, because it is hard enough in itself to discriminate between troubles due to "normal" ageing and manifestations of diseases to which the elderly are particularly susceptible. At any event, unlike in non-elderly dyspeptics, in elderly patients thorough GI investigations are always absolutely mandatory. Dietary recommendations should be simple and reasonable. Drug therapy by antisecretory and prokinetic agents should not be too strong, because the elderly are particularly sensitive to drugs, and are often taking other drugs for extra-intestinal pathology.