Inflammatory bowel disease in older people

Abstract

The physiological process of ageing can lead to a number of health challenges, including a deterioration of gastrointestinal functions and increase in digestive disorders. Therefore, although the occurrence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is quite high in younger people, some individuals can develop this inflammatory disorder at an older age. As the global population ages, there is an increasing number of older people presenting with IBD, both early and late onset, in the gastroenterology setting. In this review paper, Graeme D Smith gives an overview of IBD in older people and examines the impact of ageing on the gastrointestinal tract.