Age and Severity of Colitis (AUDIO) Washington University School of Medicine Your browser does not support the audio element. Caption Ulcerative colitis tends to strike either young patients -- between 18 and 30 -- or older patients who are 50 and older. Now researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have found that symptoms tended to linger in younger adults, and more of them required steroid therapy for the disorder. The researchers say it’s possible that although the clinical symptoms are similar in older and younger patients, the root causes of the disorder may be different. Credit Washington University BioMed Radio Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.