Age - Related Gastric Changes

Abstract

Aging is a universal process with progressive loss of function accompanied by decreasing fertility and increasing mortality and disability. There are several mechanisms to underlie the primary aging process and probably contribute to age-related changes in adaptive responses. These mechanisms are oxidative stress, mitochondrial theory, telomeres and cellular senescence, apoptosis and genetic mechanism. There are many physiological changes with aging process including blood pressure, temperature, fever, and composition of body fluids. Age-related changes in bioavailability may be secondary to changes in absorption or gut wall and hepatic metabolism. The stomach lining's capacity to resist damage decreases with age due to alteration of the gastric defense mechanisms and decreased mucosal blood flow. Normal aging is associated with age-related changes in motor function of the various parts of the gastrointestinal tract such as transit time and gastric emptying. The incidence of many gastrointestinal dysfunctions increases with advancing age that is associated with alterations in the structural and functional integrity of the gastrointestinal tract. The structural changes include mucosa, muscular coat and blood flow. The clinical significance of functional and structural gastric changes may all impact upon gastrointestinal adverse effects and how older people tolerate medicines. Understanding how the upper gastrointestinal tract changes with advancing age could allow interventions that lead to more appropriate prescribing for older people, potentially reduce adverse effects, increase compliance with treatment regimens, and may allow older people to take medications that they would not otherwise tolerate.