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Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol (May 29, 2002). doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00091.2002
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Articles in PresS, published online ahead of print May 29, 2002
Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, 10.1152/ajpgi.00091.2002
Submitted on March 6, 2002
Accepted on May 21, 2002

Age-Related Changes in the Enteric Nervous System

Paul R Wade1*

1 Department of Zoology & Physiology and WWAMI Medical Education Program, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: prw1{at}uwyo.edu.

As we enter the 21st century, the segment of the population that is the most rapidly expanding is that comprised of individuals 85 years of age and older. Dysfunctions of the gastrointestinal (GI) system, including dysphagia, constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome are more common complaints of the elderly, yet our knowledge of the aging GI tract is incomplete. Compared to the rapid advances in the neurobiology of aging in the CNS, the understanding of age-related changes in the enteric nervous system (ENS) is poor. In this brief review I recap experiments that reveal neurodegenerative changes, and their functional correlates, in the ENS of mice, rats and guinea pigs. Clinical literature seems indicative of similar structural and functional age-related changes in the human ENS. Current studies that address the mechanisms underlying age-related changes in the ENS are introduced. The future directions for this field include physiological and pharmacological studies, especially at the cellular and molecular level. Research in the aging ENS is poised to make major advances, and this new knowledge will be useful for clinicians seeking to better understand and treat GI dysfunction in the elderly.




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