Small intestinal manometry in healthy elderly subjects.

Small intestinal manometry was performed on ten healthy elderly subjects (mean age, 72 years) and ten healthy young-adult subjects (mean age 25 years). All three phases of the migrating motor complex were observed in both groups during fasting. There were no differences in the motility index between the two groups, the frequency and the mean amplitude of contractions of phases 2 and 3, or the duration and the velocity of propagation of phase 3. After a meal the motility index and the frequency of contractions were significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in the elderly group. The results suggest that intestinal motility after a meal is less in the elderly than in young adults.