Americans Warned of ‘Old Person Disease’ as Young Adults Face Rising Rates of Gut-Twisting Sickness
New York, NY – A concerning trend is emerging across the United States: a significant increase in diverticulitis diagnoses among individuals under 50, a condition historically considered an “old person’s disease.” New research reveals a dramatic shift in the age demographic affected by this painful gut condition, prompting calls for urgent examination into the underlying causes.
Diverticulitis occurs when small pouches in the digestive tract, called diverticula, become inflamed or infected. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, fever, and changes in bowel habits. While typically associated with older adults, a recent study analyzing 5.2 million hospitalizations in the National Inpatient Sample found the proportion of patients under 50 admitted with diverticulitis complications rose from 18.5 percent to 28.2 percent. this surge has experts questioning lifestyle factors and potential genetic predispositions.
The changing age range of diagnoses isn’t the only shift. While younger patients generally experience lower mortality rates and shorter hospital stays,they are paradoxically more likely to require invasive interventions. The study, led by Shineui Kim, a fourth-year medical student at UCLA, found early-onset patients are 29 percent more likely to need a colectomy – the removal of part or all of the colon – and 58 percent more likely to require drainage of an abscess.
“While younger patients generally have better survival outcomes and shorter hospitalizations,they’re paradoxically more likely to need invasive interventions,” Kim wrote in the study. ”This suggests their disease may be more aggressive or that treatment approaches differ based on patient age and overall health status.”
Historically, diverticulitis was thought to be largely influenced by genetics, with estimates in 2012 suggesting around 40 to 53 percent of cases were inheritable, according to The Daily Mail. Though, a 2025 study indicated that individuals with a genetic predisposition who maintained a low BMI, abstained from smoking, and consumed a nutritious diet were less likely to develop the condition.Researchers are now focusing on the impact of modern lifestyle changes on the rising rates of the disease.
Extreme cases of diverticulitis can lead to perforation or bowel obstruction, necessitating surgical intervention. Individuals typically receive a diagnosis between the ages of 52 and 64, but the recent data indicates this is rapidly changing. Kim emphasized the urgent need for further research to pinpoint the cause of this increase in early-onset diverticulitis and develop targeted preventative strategies.
