Johns Hopkins Health Alert
Your Aging Digestive System
You can develop a digestive disorder at any age, but the chances are much greater as you get older. Nearly 40% of all older adults have one or more digestive disorder symptoms each year, largely due to the changes that occur in the digestive tract with age.
- Digestive disorders of the mouth and esophagus. Swallowing can become difficult as a result of dry mouth or tooth decay. A stroke, dementia, or neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinson's disease) also can lead to swallowing difficulties. The esophagus and lower esophageal sphincter become weaker as we age, although these changes do not seem to contribute to the greater likelihood of heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in older adults.
- Digestive disorders of the stomach. With age, the stomach takes longer to empty into the small intestine, making older adults more vulnerable to ulcers and bleeding from medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The longer these drugs are in the stomach, the more likely they are to cause these problems. The stomach also becomes less elastic and can hold less food, meaning that older adults feel full more quickly.
- Digestive disorders of the small intestine. The small intestine does not seem to change dramatically with age, although it does become less able to absorb certain vitamins and minerals (such as vitamin D, vitamin B12, and calcium). Bacterial overgrowth can occur as well, which can cause diarrhea and unintentional weight loss in older adults.
- Digestive disorders of the large intestine. In the large intestine, a loss of muscle strength can result in diverticulosis (small pouches that bulge outward through weak points in the intestinal wall). Undigested food components take longer to move through the large intestine, leading to constipation. Polyps and colon cancer are more common in older adults, although it’s unclear what effect age has on the development of these benign and cancerous growths.
- Other digestive disorders. The liver becomes less able to metabolize medications, so it is more susceptible to damage. The gallbladder produces less bile, which may lead to gallstones. The pancreas, however, does not seem to change much with age.
Posted in Digestive Health on July 30, 2007
Reviewed September 2011
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Click here for additional information: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Disclaimer
Notify Me
Would you like us to inform you when we post new Digestive Health Health Alerts?
Comments
Health Alerts registered users may post comments and share experiences here at their own discretion. We regret that questions on individual health concerns to the Johns Hopkins editors cannot be answered in this space.
The views expressed here do not constitute medical advice, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins Medicine or Remedy Health Media, LLC, which has no responsibility for any comments posted on this site.
Post a Comment
Already a subscriber?
Login
New to Johns Hopkins Health Alerts?
This article was less than helpful. There should be advice to ameliorate the possible effects of gerd
Posted by: alan@60 | August 4, 2007 12:16 PM