2022 Volume 59 Issue 3 Pages 311-319
In octogenarians, incidence of white matter disease (WMD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are estimated as 80%: 33%: 7-8%, respectively (overlap included), and a combination of AD+WMD is the most common. In addition, diabetes that produces small fiber neuropathy is also common in octogenarians. Among autonomic disorders, orthostatic hypotension, overactive bladder and bowel motility dysfunction are common and all increase with age. Regarding pathophysiology, relation between diabetes, DLB with orthostatic hypotension, that between WMD, DLB (AD in part) with overactive bladder, and that between diabetes, DLB with bowel motility dysfunction have been postulated. Proper management for the autonomic dysfunction in older individuals is necessary to maximize quality of life in the patients.
