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Aging‐related changes in swallowing, and in the coordination of swallowing and respiration determined by novel non‐invasive measurement techniques
Author(s) -
Wang ChinMan,
Chen JiYih,
Chuang ChiungCheng,
Tseng WenChun,
Wong Alice MK,
Pei YuCheng
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/ggi.12343
Subject(s) - swallowing , medicine , dysphagia , larynx , age groups , respiration , young adult , audiology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , surgery , demography , anatomy , sociology
Aim Previous studies have shown that the process of swallowing changes with aging, a phenomenon known as presbyphagia. These subtle and subclinical age‐related changes make older adults more vulnerable to dysphagia during disease insults. However, there are limited studies of the swallowing process in older adults, because measurements are typically invasive or require exposure to X ‐rays. In the present study, we used integrated non‐invasive measurements to determine aging‐related changes of swallowing, and in the coordination of swallowing and respiration for a population of healthy participants. Methods The non‐invasive system provided measurements of larynx movement with piezoelectric sensors, submental muscle activity with surface electromyography and respiration–swallowing coordination by measurement of nasal airflow. We recruited 112 healthy participants from the community, 35 in a young‐age group (age 20–30 years), 38 in a middle‐age group (age 31–50 years) and 39 in an old‐age group (age 51–70 years). Results The oropharyngeal swallowing parameters of the old‐age group had delayed onset latency and longer swallowing apnea duration relative to the other groups, and these differences were greater for larger boluses. The middle‐ and old‐age groups had less expiratory–expiratory respiratory phase pattern than the young‐age group. The probability of piecemeal deglutition was highest in the old‐age group and lowest in the young‐age group. These results show that the phases of oropharyngeal swallowing and the coordination of swallowing with respiration gradually change with aging. Conclusions We used integrated non‐invasive measurements to document age‐related changes in swallowing, and in the coordination of swallowing and respiration in healthy adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 736–744.