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- Bowel changes in seniors can include123:
- Excessive growth of certain bacteria (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) becomes more common with age and can lead to pain, bloating, and weight loss.
- Age-related structural changes in the large intestine can result in more constipation in older adults.
- Other contributing factors to constipation include a lack of exercise, not drinking enough fluids, a low-fiber diet, medications, and certain medical conditions.
Learn more:✕This summary was generated using AI based on multiple online sources. To view the original source information, use the "Learn more" links.Excessive growth of certain bacteria (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) becomes more common with age and can lead to pain, bloating, and weight loss. Bacterial overgrowth may also lead to decreased absorption of certain nutrients, such as vitamin B12, iron, and calcium.www.merckmanuals.com/home/digestive-disorders…Age-related structural changes in the large intestine can result in more constipation in older adults. Other contributing factors include a lack of exercise, not drinking enough fluids and a low-fiber diet. Medications, such as diuretics and iron supplements, and certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, also might contribute to constipation.www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/…Changes in the digestive system. Your digestive system moves food through your body by a series of muscle contractions. Just like squeezing a toothpaste tube, these contractions push food along your digestive tract, Hanan says. As we age, this process sometimes slows down, and this can cause food to move more slowly through the colon.www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/features/dig… Aging and Digestive Health - WebMD