Effect of Aging on the Esophageal Motor Functions.

Abstract

To clarify the changes of esophageal motility along with age, we performed esophageal manometry on 47 healthy volunteers, and compared the values of four groups under 49 years old (n=11), 50 to 59 (n=15), 60 to 69 (n=11), and over 70 years old (n=10). Resting lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure in the group over 70 years old showed the tendency of decrease, but not statistically significant. Nadir LES pressure on swallow-induced relaxa tion was not statistically different among 4 groups. On esophageal body testing, percentage of non-conduction sequence in the group 60 to 69 and over 70 years old was statistically higher compared with that of the group under 49 years old (p<0.05) but spared in some elderly subjects. Percentage of simultaneous contractions was not statistically different among 4 groups. Peristaltic contraction amplitude in the group over 70 years old was significantly lower than that of the group under 49 years old both at the level of 5 cm above (p<0.01) and 10 cm above LES (p<0.05). We speculate that the influence of aging on esophageal motility is the reduced transmission sequence of peristalsis and contractility of esophageal body. This alteration along with age may differ from the pathological condi tion of scleroderma or diffuse esophageal spasm.

The effect of age on the key parameters in the Chicago classification: a study using high‐resolution esophageal manometry in asymptomatic normal individuals

“…Distal latency is a measure of the interval between UES relaxation and the CDP, and is an important parameter in the diagnosis of diffuse esophageal spasm . Non‐propagated peristaltic activity is significantly more frequent in the elderly population compared to the younger population . Our finding that DL was significantly shorter in older subjects than in younger subjects may be associated with the decreased number of neurons in the esophageal myenteric plexus of older individuals.…”

“…29,30 Non-propagated peristaltic activity is significantly more frequent in the elderly population compared to the younger population. 31 Our finding that DL was significantly shorter in older subjects than in younger subjects may be associated with the decreased number of neurons in the esophageal myenteric plexus of older individuals. Therefore, the current cut-off value of 4.5 s might be too short or too long, depending on the age group.…”

Effects of Age on Esophageal Motility: Use of High-resolution Esophageal Impedance Manometry

“…Actually, many studies have shown that esophageal motility deteriorates with age. Nishimura et al 20 reported that esoph- ageal transmission sequence of peristalsis and contractility of the esophageal body are reduced in aged people. Resting LES pressure had the tendency to decrease, but not statistically significant, and peristaltic contraction amplitude was lower than that of the group aged under 49 years compared to the group aged over 70 years on analysis using conventional esophageal manometry.…”

“…Resting LES pressure had the tendency to decrease, but not statistically significant, and peristaltic contraction amplitude was lower than that of the group aged under 49 years compared to the group aged over 70 years on analysis using conventional esophageal manometry. 20 Ferriolli et al 21 reported that impaired clearance of refluxed materials associated with defective esophageal peristalsis was found more frequently in 150 140 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 10 mmHg aged subjects on analysis using conventional esophageal manometry. Our results on analysis using HRIM were consistent with those of earlier studies on analysis using conventional manometry, suggesting that there are the disturbances of esophageal peristalsis in aged people.…”

Effects of Aging and Acid Reflux on Esophageal Motility

“…While it has been reported that aging can have a minor effect on esophageal motility [1], it has also been reported, from manometry examinations, that many elderly people with esophageal dysmotility have decreased amplitude of esophageal contractions, a lower success rate of primary peristalsis, and decreased lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure [2,3,4] and that the prevalence of reflux esophagitis (RE) does increase with age [5]. In general, when considering these results, a decrease in esophageal motility from aging may indeed be a cause of RE.…”