Countdown to… NUMBER TWO?!
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.
Many struggle with chronic constipation. But what causes this stoppage?
Lauren Jones and Flinders University in Australia wanted to CLEAR THIS UP.
Our gut contracts to move food along the digestive tract. Piezo2 is a touch-sensitive protein that senses pressure there. It signals for an increased frequency of contractions. But Piezo2 levels in the gut also decrease with age.
Researchers tested Piezo2 effects on constipation using mice. They had a control group, and a group with eighty-five percent less Piezo2. In the second group, they found LESS gut contraction!
Age-related constipation affects half of adults over eighty. Understanding these mechanisms could help improve the quality of life for millions!
Remember: “Piezo2 for better poo!”
Reference: Jones, L. A., Jin, B., Martin, A. M., Wei, L., Ro, S., Keating, D. J., de Fontgalland, D., Hollington, P., Wattchow, D. A., Rabbitt, P., Sposato, L., & Spencer, N. J. (2022). Diminished piezo2-dependent tactile sensitivity occurs in aging human gut and slows gastrointestinal transit in mice. Gastroenterology, 162(6). https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2022.01.043