In humans ageing is frequently manifest by a progressive decline in bodily functions, which can significantly reduce older people’s quality of life and reduce their independence. Of particular significance is an increased likelihood of developing incontinence which contributes to an overall decreased feeling of well being. Both urinary and faecal incontinence are associated with ageing; recent studies suggest prevalence figures as high as 11% for faecal incontinence in the UK population. Although faecal incontinence is clearly a problem for elderly people, the mechanisms of pathogenesis resulting in faecal incontinence are poorly understood. The lack of research into this condition is being increasingly recognised and has led to the promotion of ageing bladder and bowel research by the BBSRC and the ageing charity Researchinto Ageing. As part of this initiative Drs Mark Yeoman and Bhavik Patel have been awarded BBSRC grant funding to study ageing-induced changes in the physiology and pharmacology of the neurones that maintain faecal continence. This work represents part of a major three-year study looking at the “Integrated analysis of the impact of age associated neuronal and enteroendocrine changes on normal bowel functions”. The studies by Drs Yeoman and Patel will be linked to a second major study by Dr Richard Ranson, at the University of Northumbria and Dr Jill Saffrey at the Open University, in which the age-related structural changes of the neurons that control faecal incontinence, will be linked to the physiological and pharmacological changes. The total funding secured for this initiative is in the region of £770,000 and will serve to train two post-doctoral research assistants.
