Neurogenic mechanisms in bladder and bowel ageing

作者：Ranson Richard N^*; Saffrey M Jill

来源：Biogerontology, 2015, 16(2): 265-284.

DOI：10.1007/s10522-015-9554-3

• Ageing
• Bladder
• Bowel
• Anal sphincter
• Incontinence
• Constipation
• Autonomic nervous system
• Enteric nervous system

The prevalence of both urinary and faecal incontinence, and also chronic constipation, increases with ageing and these conditions have a major impact on the quality of life of the elderly. Management of bladder and bowel dysfunction in the elderly is currently far from ideal and also carries a significant financial burden. Understanding how these changes occur is thus a major priority in biogerontology. The functions of the bladder and terminal bowel are regulated by complex neuronal networks. In particular neurons of the spinal cord and peripheral ganglia play a key role in regulating micturition and defaecation reflexes as well as promoting continence. In this review we discuss the evidence for ageing-induced neuronal dysfunction that might predispose to neurogenic forms of incontinence in the elderly.

• 出版日期2015-4