Journal of the Korean Dysphagia Society 2016;6(2):54-59

Aging-Related Changes and Disorders of Gastrointestinal Tract in the Elderly.

Yong Sung KIM 1

Affiliations

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Keywords

Aging; Enteric nervous system; Gastrointestinal motility; Gastrointestinal diseases

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

The goal of this short review is to summarize physiologic changes in gastrointestinal (GI) tract with aging and common GI disorders in the elderly. Normal aging is associated with various changes in GI tract, such as alteration of enteric nervous system, decreased smooth muscle excitability, and decreased GI motility. Elderly individuals frequently have GI disorders (e.g. dysphagia, gastroesophageal reflux disease and functional constipation), however, physiologic change in GI tract with aging seems to have a minor effect on these disorders. Various aging-related chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus or Parkinson's disease and frequently used drugs such as anticholinergics or opioid analgesics in the elderly are more important in pathogenesis of GI disorders in the elderly. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the aging-related physiologic GI change as well as an effect of comorbid chronic diseases and drugs on elderly patients with GI disorders.