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

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The journal of nutrition, health & aging

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.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge Dr. Cephus Simmons, Dr. R. Jordan Hazelwood, and Ms. Brittni Carnes for their assistance with data collection. The authors also acknowledge Dr. Elaine Amella Krug for her assistance with study concept and early data interpretation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA

    Kendrea L. Garand

  2. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA

    J. Beall, E. G. Hill, K. Davidson & J. Blair

  3. Edward via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Auburn, Auburn, USA

    W. Pearson Jr

  4. Northwestern University, Evanston, USA

    B. Martin-Harris

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  1. Kendrea L. Garand
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  2. J. Beall
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Correspondence to Kendrea L. Garand.

Ethics declarations

Ethical Approval: All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the ethics committee of the Medical University of South Carolina. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

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).

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Garand, K.L., Beall, J., Hill, E.G. et al. Effects of Presbyphagia on Oropharyngeal Swallowing Observed during Modified Barium Swallow Studies. J Nutr Health Aging 26, 973–980 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-022-1854-0

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