Project Details
Description
The incidence of chronic constipation and faecal impaction increases with age and often leads to social isolation and a loss of independence and therefore quality of life.
This problem is estimated to affect one in five community dwelling older people and up to 80 per cent of institutionalised older people. The causes of age-related constipation are likely to be multi-factorial with changes in nutrition, mobility and polypharmacy as well as the ageing process being contributory factors. This BBSRC funded project used a pre-clinical model to examine the specific contributions that the ageing process makes to chronic constipation.
The aim of the project was
> to characterise the age-related changes in signalling processes and function in the lower bowel.
> to understand the contribution that processes such as stress, inflammation and replicative senescence play in the observed changes.
> to identify novel targets and interventions that can be tested in the clinic to alleviate this debilitating condition.
The project found that ageing is associated with alterations in mucosal serotonin signalling, colonic tachykinin signalling and decreases in colonic motility and faecal pellet output. These effects are not due to neurodegeneration but are linked with increases in the expression of inflammatory mediators and some can be reversed using the anti-TNFalpha drug, etanercept.
Researchers also demonstrated that the density of some nerve fibres that innervate the internal anal sphincter are reduced with age and that a range of compensatory changes are required to ensure that this muscle does not lose function. Together these data are starting to provide a range of targets that could be used to help alleviate a range of bowel disorders in older people.
This problem is estimated to affect one in five community dwelling older people and up to 80 per cent of institutionalised older people. The causes of age-related constipation are likely to be multi-factorial with changes in nutrition, mobility and polypharmacy as well as the ageing process being contributory factors. This BBSRC funded project used a pre-clinical model to examine the specific contributions that the ageing process makes to chronic constipation.
The aim of the project was
> to characterise the age-related changes in signalling processes and function in the lower bowel.
> to understand the contribution that processes such as stress, inflammation and replicative senescence play in the observed changes.
> to identify novel targets and interventions that can be tested in the clinic to alleviate this debilitating condition.
The project found that ageing is associated with alterations in mucosal serotonin signalling, colonic tachykinin signalling and decreases in colonic motility and faecal pellet output. These effects are not due to neurodegeneration but are linked with increases in the expression of inflammatory mediators and some can be reversed using the anti-TNFalpha drug, etanercept.
Researchers also demonstrated that the density of some nerve fibres that innervate the internal anal sphincter are reduced with age and that a range of compensatory changes are required to ensure that this muscle does not lose function. Together these data are starting to provide a range of targets that could be used to help alleviate a range of bowel disorders in older people.
Key findings
Parmar L, Fidalgo S, Yeoman MS, Patel BA. Chromatographic analysis of age-related changes in mucosal serotonin transmission in the murine distal ileum. Chem Cent J. 2012 Apr 11;6(1):31
Wang, C; Houghton, MJ; Gamage, PPKM; Collins,; Patel,; Yeoman, MS; Ranson, RN; Saffrey, MJ. Changes in the innervation of the mouse internal anal sphincter during aging Neurogastroenterology and Motility Volume: 25 Issue: 7 Pages: e469-e477, 2013.
Diss, LB; Robinson, SD; Wu, Y; Fidalgo, S; Yeoman,; Patel, Age-Related Changes in Melatonin Release in the Murine Distal Colon. ACS Chemical Neuroscience Volume: 4 Issue: 5 Pages: 879-887, 2013.
Gamage, P; Ranson, RN; Yeoman, MS; Patel, BA; Saffrey, MJ. Myenteric neuron numbers are maintained in aging mouse distal colon. Neurogastroenterology and Motility 25:e495-505, 2013.
Patel, B.A., Patel, N., Fidalgo, S., Wang, C., Ranson, R., Saffrey, J., and Yeoman, M.S. Impaired Colonic Motility and reduction in tachykinin signalling in the aged mouse. Exp. Gerontol. 53: 24-30, 2014.
Wang, C; Houghton, MJ; Gamage, PPKM; Collins,; Patel,; Yeoman, MS; Ranson, RN; Saffrey, MJ. Changes in the innervation of the mouse internal anal sphincter during aging Neurogastroenterology and Motility Volume: 25 Issue: 7 Pages: e469-e477, 2013.
Diss, LB; Robinson, SD; Wu, Y; Fidalgo, S; Yeoman,; Patel, Age-Related Changes in Melatonin Release in the Murine Distal Colon. ACS Chemical Neuroscience Volume: 4 Issue: 5 Pages: 879-887, 2013.
Gamage, P; Ranson, RN; Yeoman, MS; Patel, BA; Saffrey, MJ. Myenteric neuron numbers are maintained in aging mouse distal colon. Neurogastroenterology and Motility 25:e495-505, 2013.
Patel, B.A., Patel, N., Fidalgo, S., Wang, C., Ranson, R., Saffrey, J., and Yeoman, M.S. Impaired Colonic Motility and reduction in tachykinin signalling in the aged mouse. Exp. Gerontol. 53: 24-30, 2014.
| Status | Finished |
|---|---|
| Effective start/end date | 1/09/10 → 31/08/14 |
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