The Aging Bowel Dysfunction and Elderly Vulnerability towards COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, primarily a respiratory tract virus, also affects the enteric organs. The most affected sector of the community are the retirement and nursing home elderly residents. Along their life the senescent gastrointestinal functions are deteriorating and failing to fully execute their digestive, absorptive, mucosal barriers, and immune protective duties. Adding the decreased motility, increased intestinal permeability, dysbiosis, morbid chronic disease background, the consumed polypharmacy enteric adverse effects to the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 host receptor along the intestinal tracts put the basis for the current hypothesis. It is hypothesized that the disadvantages and failures of the aging enteric tract contribute to the elderly morbidity and mortality during the current new coronavirus pandemic. In a more optimistic look, several nutraceuticals can prevent or restore the dysfunctional intestinal barrier functions, mainly in the elderly and potentially in those who are SARS-CoV-2 infected.

Association Between Atopic Dermatitis and Aging: Clinical Observations and Underlying Mechanisms

“…Digestive system aging is marked by a decline in digestive and absorptive efficiency, attributable to the degeneration of endogenous digestive enzymes, 107 alterations in endocrine hormone activity, 108 and atrophy of the small intestinal villi. 109 Additionally, age-related gastrointestinal motility disorders can precipitate difficulties in swallowing, gastroesophageal reflux, constipation, and fecal incontinence, potentially linked to neural degeneration within the myenteric plexus of the gastrointestinal nervous system.…”

“…110 The gut microbiota also undergoes compositional changes, reflecting an ecological imbalance with a decrease in beneficial microorganisms like Bifidobacteria and a relative increase in potentially inflammatory bacteria, such as Staphylococcaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Enterococcaceae. 108,111 Individuals with AD are more susceptible to gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, a sense of incomplete bowel emptying, and constipation. 112 The gut microbiota, a key regulator of the gut-skin axis, is integral to the interplay between AD and digestive health.…”

HLA-DQ2/8 and COVID-19 in celiac disease: Boon or Bane

“…Despite the plethora of extraintestinal manifestations of CD [52][53][54], its primary target organ is the small bowel [55,56]. Indeed, SARS-CoV-2 preferentially infects the upper respiratory tract, but the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and its associated organs are no less affected [57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64]. Table 2 summarizes the enteric aspects that were described during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

The Link between Obesity, Microbiota Dysbiosis, and Neurodegenerative Pathogenesis

“…Obesity is a risk factor in developing neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., AD or PD), with common causes such as oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, both of which are supported by inflammatory progression. From a molecular perspective, early aging causes an increase in the blood-brain barrier’s permeability and intestinal permeability in the elderly, which has a proinflammatory effect [ 88 , 89 ].…”