Esophageal and Gastric Motility Disorders in the Elderly

The elderly are particularly prone to developing upper gastrointestinal disturbances. Changes are due to the aging process, diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors, and neurologic issues. Medications used to treat these underlying conditions can cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Dysphagia is common and can be oropharyngeal and/or esophageal. Gastroparesis is due to either medications such opiates, or due to neurologic sequala of diabetes, cerebrovascular accidents, or neurologic diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Given limitations in many commonly used prokinetics with a wide range of side effect profiles including neurologic and cardiac, the focus of treatment should be on symptom management with dietary changes.