Genetics
Recent findings have shown that diverticulitis is a type of hereditary disease. Almost 78% of patients with diverticulitis have close family members who were also diagnosed with the disease. In addition, a study in Iceland showed that the offspring of patients with diverticulitis are born with bulges or tiny pockets all over their digestive tracts. However, the disease will only be triggered or awakened once they reach adulthood.
In another study, participants born with weak digestive tract lining are more likely to develop diverticulitis, regardless of their diet and lifestyle. Experts argue that the condition was inherited from the parents. Several animal and laboratory studies also supported the claim that genes and heredity play significant roles in the development of the disease.
However, the connection between genes and diverticulitis is still blurry. Therefore, deeper and more detailed methods are still needed to trace the origin and fundamental cause of the disease.
