Source
Department of Speech-Language Pathology, University of Toronto, and Toronto Western Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. p.vanlieshout@utoronto.ca
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Patients with Parkinson’s disease often suffer from swallowing problems, especially at more advanced stages of the disease. Efficient swallows require well-coordinated tongue movements during bolus flow, but little is known about such movements in Parkinson’s disease.
METHODS:
The current study presents data on tongue movements for patients with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease (n=10), age-matched adults (n=13), and younger healthy adults (n=15).
RESULTS:
Participants with Parkinson’s disease showed smaller and more variable movements in the horizontal movement plane, indicating thattongue movements are affected in early stages of Parkinson’s disease.
CONCLUSIONS:
The small and more variable movements in the horizontal plane of Patients with Parkinson’s disease may pose challenges for swallowing liquids efficiently and safely.
