Increased Knowledge and Awareness of Celiac Disease will Benefit the Elderly

Celiac disease, once deemed to be primarily a pediatric disease, is accepted nowadays as a lifelong disease that increasingly affects the elderly. In older patients it is late and underdiagnosed, it is hypo- or asymptomatic and case finding strategy is recommended. Gluten restrictive therapy is problematic but manageable and beneficial, improving symptoms, serology, histology and preventing complications. Increased knowledge and awareness on CD in the third age and a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and holistic approach will improve their outcome.