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Gastrointestinal tract disorders in the elderly.

Marilena Durazzo¹, Daniela Campion², Sharmila Fagoonee³

¹Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy - marilena.durazzo@unito.it.

|October 5, 2017

Summary

As the global population ages, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and diseases in the elderly are increasing. Understanding these common GI disorders is crucial for public health due to age-related physiological changes.

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Area of Science:

Gerontology
Gastroenterology
Public Health

Background:

Global population is aging, with a projected acceleration in older demographics.
Aging affects gastrointestinal (GI) motility, immunity, and function.
Increased GI symptoms in the elderly are linked to aging, comorbidities, and environmental factors.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the most frequent gastrointestinal (GI) disorders in the elderly.
To describe the epidemiological, pathophysiological, and clinical implications of these GI conditions.
To discuss the role of a multidisciplinary approach in managing elderly GI health.

Main Methods:

Literature review focusing on benign GI diseases, symptoms, and signs in older adults.
Analysis of epidemiological data and pathophysiological mechanisms.
Discussion of clinical implications and diagnostic challenges.

Main Results:

No specific GI disease unique to the elderly is identified.
Prevalence of GI symptoms and signs increases with age, comorbidities, and environmental exposures.
Age-related physiological changes complicate diagnosis and treatment response.

Conclusions:

Gastrointestinal (GI) morbidity in the elderly is a significant public health concern.
Differentiating age-related changes from disease is challenging in older adults.
A multidisciplinary approach may be beneficial for managing complex GI cases in the elderly.