Maria Caterina Parlangeli

Dr. Maria Caterina Parlangeli


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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10 March 2024 in Gastrointestinal Disorders
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AGAntonella Gallo
Antonella Gallo
SPSimona Pellegrino
Simona Pellegrino
EPErika Pero
Erika Pero
MAMARIA CHIARA AGNITELLI
MARIA CHIARA AGNITELLI
MPMaria Caterina Parlangeli
Maria Caterina Parlangeli
MMMassimo Montalto
Massimo Montalto
From a physiological standpoint, aging is a progressive reduction in each organ system’s capacity to maintain homeostasis in the face of illness or stressors. With advancing age, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and signs may increase, not only due to the aging processes but also to the superimposed effects of comorbidities, which can badly affect digestive functions (i.e., diabetes, malignancy, etc.) and environmental exposure. In general, gastrointestinal symptoms in older people more often underlie organic pathologies, while GI functional disorders are less frequently diagnosed in this age group. Moreover, gastrointestinal disease can also present in a nuanced and atypical manner, making the diagnostic hypothesis and, consequently, the correct diagnosis and therapy more challenging. In addition, with reference to this age group, the clinical implications of gastrointestinal pathologies can be more severe due to a decreased physiologic reserve, with a higher risk for malnutrition resulting in falls, depression, social isolation, and a deterioration of functional status. In this review, we focused on the most frequent GI tract disorders, highlighting the main age-related changes, their epidemiological, pathophysiological and clinical implications, and any differences with younger patients.