Relationship between Crohn’s disease and gut microbiota in the elderly: a literature review

Crohn disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract that develops as a result of complex interaction between the immune system and the gut microbiota. The incidence of the disease has recently increased, especially in the young and elderly population. This article examines current data on microbiota changes in patients with Crohn disease with an emphasis on the elderly population and the influence of the intestinal microflora composition on the disease course. An analysis of literature over the past 5 years from scientific databases, such as Medline, PubMed Central, eLIBRARY.RU, and Cyberleninka, has shown that the intestinal dysbiosis characteristic of the majority of patients with Crohn disease leads to a decrease in bacterial diversity and excessive growth of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition to the bacterial flora, an important role in the pathogenesis and course of the disease play fungi, viruses, and parasites, which is directly related to the worsening of the condition. The findings emphasize the importance of studying the role of microbiota in the development and course of the disease, which may contribute to the development of new treatment and prevention options.