ABSTRACT
Although Crohn 's disease was described initially in young adults, it has become increasingly apparent that Crohn 's disease may affect the elderly, with the new onset of disease occurring weD into the seventh and eighth decades of life. Early reports of Crohn 's disease in the elderly suggested that it was a distinct entity with a severe course and a bad outcome. More recent studies have tended to blur any differences between the young and old with this disorder. This chapter emphasizes the differences that do exist as it reviews the epidemiology, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, treatment options, and outcome of the older patient with Crohn 's disease.
