The aging bladder

Although it is well established that lower urinary tract symptoms increase in frequency with aging, there are few studies of the mechanisms that underlie bladder dysfunction. Age-related reduction in bladder capacity, uninhibited contractions, decreased urinary flow rate, diminished urethral pressure profile, and increased postvoid residual volume warrant investigation and require differentiation between symptoms associated with aging and those related to comorbid conditions. Here, the current data are reviewed, including those from muscle bath investigations of bladder tissue contractility, in vivo studies using animal models, and clinical studies in the aging population.