QUANTITATIVE ASPECTS OF SWALLOWING IN AN ELDERLY NONDYSPHAGIC POPULATION

The prevalence of swallowing impairment increases with age and is a ma jor health care problem in the elderly. It has been assumed that age-r elated changes in nerves and muscles hamper muscle strength and coordi nation of swallowing. However, it is unclear what impairment is relate d to primary aging and what is the consequence of diseases prevalent i n the elderly (secondary aging). In order to quantify swallowing in no ndysphagic elderly we used the noninvasive ROSS (Repetitive Oral Sucti on Swallow) test. A total of 53 individuals aged 76 +/- 5 years (mean +/- SD) were examined. We found that the nondysphagic elderly demonstr ated significant differences compared with young individuals in 10 of 17 measured variables, i.e., decreased peak suction pressure, increase d frequency of multiple swallows after one ingestion, increased freque ncy of polyphasic laryngeal movements, increased frequency of inspirat ion after swallowing, and increased frequency of coughing during or af ter swallowing, Therefore, primary aging mainly seems to influence coo rdination of swallowing, but oral and pharyngeal swallow per se seem t o be unaffected.