EFFECT OF AGING ON THE GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT AND THE PANCREAS

With estimates that about 14% of the U.S. population will be over 65 y ears old by the end of this century, scientific research has attempted to achieve a better understanding of the aging process and of disease s that are expressed in higher incidence with advancing age. Because o f its high rate of cell turnover and continual renewal, the mucosa of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract appears particularly susceptible to ag e-related disruptions in the normal cell proliferative process. This m ay translate into altered function that may result in the induction of malnutrition or malabsorption of particular nutrients, or a greater i ncidence of GI diseases, such as neoplasia. This review will examine t he evidence for age-related alterations in the structural and function al properties of different regions of the GI tract and the pancreas, a nd how they may relate to malnutrition or disease processes.