For most people it's not an "inevitable condition of getting older" but the causes may change as your metabolism "matures." Foods that once didn't bother you may suddenly decide to rush right through, and you may need to adjust your diet. The horrifying fact is that sometimes beer acts that way for some people. (It's probably the hops?)

Anything you may have ingested in larger than usual amounts within a couple of days before you noticed the problem may be a suspect, and adjusting your diet will often help.

A recent antibiotic (or other medical) treatment may have "depopulated" the natural gut flora, and in some people this can cause reduced control. A common "treatment" is a dose or two of lactobacillus acidophilus, which should be available from pharmacies and/or health food shops. In some areas you can get milk (skim usually) treated to contain it. Yogurt is also a recommended source.

Plain old "lazy gut" can cause a loss of control, and there are (you knew there would be) exercises recomended for improving your "holding power."

A number of conditions, ranging from annoying to rather serious, can be at fault, so consulting with a qualified medical advisor is recommended if the condition persists for more than a few days. Changes in Liver, kidney, gall bladder, and sometimes even thyroid functions can cause excessive amounts of fluid to be retained in the gut where it makes things slide right through. Lower gut polyps, while usually "benign," can cause reduced control.

Any appearance of elevated temperature associated with an unusual loss of control should be sufficient cause to seek professional medical advice, due to the very large number and variety of (mostly bacterial) infections that can cause loss of control. You may have to resort to "technical aids" (a thermometer) to be sure whether your temp is normal in some cases.

Or it may just be a bad piece of cheese.

John