Final answer:
Diverticular disease often occurs with aging, and constipation can contribute to its development. Inflammation and infection of diverticula, known as diverticulitis, are typically caused by bacteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
Diverticular disease often occurs with aging. As people age, the risk of developing diverticulosis increases, and subsequently, so does the risk of it progressing to diverticulitis where the diverticula become infected and inflamed. Constipation can also contribute to the development of diverticular disease, as it increases pressure in the colon, potentially leading to the formation of diverticula. It's important to note that while having diverticula, which is known as diverticulosis, is relatively common, not everyone with diverticulosis will go on to develop diverticulitis. Nevertheless, infections caused by bacteria in these pouches are responsible for the progression from diverticulosis to diverticulitis in a subset of individuals.