The Impact of Age on Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction

Bowel disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional constipation (FC), and functional diarrhea (FD), are commonly encountered in gastroenterology and primary care clinics. The severity and perception of bowel symptoms among patients with DGBI can vary across different age groups, and understanding how symptom experience changes with age may inform better management strategies for these conditions. A recent epidemiology study noted a reduction in the overall prevalence of bowel DGBI among individuals over age 65,¹ and multiple studies have suggested a reduction in abdominal pain with age.2,3 However, not all individual symptoms decrease with age, and indeed it has been suggested that older adults, particularly women, may experience a higher prevalence or severity of fecal incontinence and constipation, possibly due to factors like pelvic floor dysfunction.⁴ No study to date has identified age-related changes in abdominal pain and bowel symptoms in the specific subset of patients with bowel DGBI. In this study, we aim to better understand the relationship between age and specific bowel habits, including abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea in patients meeting criteria for bowel DGBI.