Individuals who are diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in their 20s may be less likely to experience remission stages as they age, according to findings published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. In fact, patients who have developed the disorder by age 50 years and older will see better results from treatments that alleviate symptoms.

During a seven-year trial, researchers observed 295 patients who were receiving medications for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The team then compared remission stages in participants aged 50 years and older to patients under the age of 50.

After treatment, 64 percent of the patients who had developed IBD after age 50 experienced relief. However, only 49 percent of those who had the disorder at a younger age were in remission.

The researchers concluded that because the immune system is less active as people age, older IBD patients are expected to see better treatment results.

Matthew A. Ciorba, lead author of the study, stated that “ulcerative colitis is driven by an over-active immune response in the gut, so it makes sense that people whose immune systems are less active might have better outcomes.” He added that “conversely, younger patients are more likely to have robust inflammatory responses, so their disease is harder to quiet down.”

In 2008, approximately 82,000 Americans were hospitalized for ulceractive colitis, the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse reports.