The Comparison of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Alzheimer’s Disease versus Older Adults with Presbyphagia

Dysphagia is defined as difficulty in swallowing, while presbyphagia is described as a change in swallowing process in healthy older adults, which is a compensable physiological impairment and synonymous with dysphagia. Aging is a well-known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is a common condition in AD. Our study aims to compare OD in AD patients and older adults with presbyphagia (OAwP). 65 older adults (AD = 32, mean age:76.5 ± 6; OAwP = 33, mean age:71.1 ± 4) were included. Swallowing disorders were evaluated by Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation Study, which scored by Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS) that scores other than 1 indicate dysphagia, Murray Secretion Severity Scale (MSSS), and Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10). Neurologist determined Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scores of AD patients. AD and OAwP groups had OD, respectively, 96.87% vs. 81.81% by PAS, 87.5% vs. 60.60% by MSSS, and 56.25% vs. 18.18% by EAT-10. No statistical differences were observed between AD and OAwP in terms of gender, age, PAS, and MSSS values (p > 0.05). There was a significant difference in EAT-10 total scores (p = 0.000), and had OD by EAT-10 (p = 0.024). No differences were found in age, time elapsed since diagnosis, PAS, and EAT-10 scores based on CDR, but there was a difference in MSSS scores (p = 0.013). CDR in AD were associated with gender, time elapsed since diagnosis, and MSSS scores (p < 0.05). OAwP experience swallowing problems at least as much as those with AD. Evaluation of swallowing disorders after diagnosis is essential for both AD and OAwP. Early-stage management of disease with preventive treatment approaches can delay onset of symptoms.