Tongue control for swallowing in Parkinson's disease: Effects of age, rate, and stimulus consistency

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 that tongue 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.