BLADDER

Aged vs Aging bladder.

Incontinence in the elderly is a major quality of life issue and extracts a considerable toll on the resources and time of aged care personnel and the community at large. Yet clinical observations appear to contradict the standard doctrine of age effects in the bladder.

We are currently in our 4th year of a longitudinal study into the effects of age and aging on bladder ultrastructure and compliance. The aim is to create a baseline of bladder muscle physiology using bladder muscle biopsies from individuals of both genders with a non-pathogenic diagnosis, using specific and clearly defined clinical and experimental parameters. Gender, ethnic, socioeconomic backgrounds, family and medical histories are being matched with patient self-assessment (IPSS), clinical observations (observations, uroflows, ultrasounds), pathology (detrusor muscle constituents) and molecular profiles.

The significance of the results from this pilot study and the long-term projects that follow on will be as a comparative baseline for clinicians. It will provide clear, reproducible data on the changes (if any) that occur in the bladder as an individual ages and some of the parameters which may have a bearing on different conditions. This should lead to improved clinical diagnosis and long-term management strategies.