title: Neurogenic mechanisms in bladder and bowel ageing.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Applied Sciences (Biomedical Sciences), Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK, richard.ranson@northumbria.ac.uk.
authors: Richard N
authors: RN
authors: Ranson
authors: M Jill
authors: MJ
authors: Saffrey
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D003248:Constipation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000503:physiopathology*