Effects of Presbyphagia on Oropharyngeal Swallowing Observed during Modified Barium Swallow Studies

Kendrea L. Garand*, J. Beall, E. G. Hill, K. Davidson, J. Blair, W. Pearson, B. Martin-Harris

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: Understanding how aging impacts swallowing can help differentiate typical from atypical behaviors. This study aimed to quantify age-related swallowing alterations observed during a modified barium swallow study. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Adult fluoroscopy suite in a metropolitan hospital at an academic center. Participants: 195 healthy adults distributed across 3 age categories: 21–39; 40–59; 60+ years. Measurements: 17 physiologic components of swallowing across three functional domains (oral, pharyngeal, esophageal), including summed composite scores (Oral Total [OT] and Pharyngeal Total [PT]), from the validated and standardized Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile. Results: Most components (65%) demonstrated no impairment (scores of “0”). The odds of a worse (higher) score increased significantly with age for: Tongue Control during Bolus Hold, Hyolaryngeal Movement, Laryngeal Closure, Pharyngeal Contraction, and Pharyngoesophageal Segment Opening. OT and PT scores for 40–59-year-olds were worse than the youngest group (p=.01 and p <.001, respectively). Adults 60+ years had significantly worse PT scores among all groups (p-values <.01). Conclusion: Oropharyngeal swallowing physiology evolves as healthy adults age and should be considered during clinical decision-making.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)973-980
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Nutrition, Health and Aging
Volume26
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2022

Funding

Conflicts of Interest: a. Financial conflicts: This work was supported by the Veterans Affairs (RR&D 1IK1RX001628-01A to K.G.), American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (K.G.), the National Institutes of Health (NIH/NCATS TL1R000061 to K.G. and NIH/NIDCD 1K24DC12801 to B.M-H.), and the Evelyn Trammell Trust (to B.M-H.). b. Personal conflicts: Authors declare none. c. Potential conflict: B.M-H. receives MBSImP Royalty from the Medical University of South Carolina owner and license guarantor to Northern Speech Services (NSS).

Keywords

  • Swallowing
  • adults
  • aging
  • healthy
  • modified barium swallow study

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology

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