Article

This study aimed to analyze quantitatively videofluoroscopic (VF) images of
patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), to evaluate if the predicted factors of
the oral phase of swallowing deteriorated with PD progression, and to demonstrate
a relationship between the abnormal movements of the tongue and food
transportation. Thirty PD patients were recruited and divided into mild/moderate
(Hoehn & Yahr stages II and III) and advanced (stages IV and V) groups. They
underwent measurement of tongue strength and VF using 5 ml of barium gelatin
jelly as a test food. We measured the speed of bolus movement and the range of
tongue and mandible movements during oropharyngeal transit time. The maximum
tongue pressure of the mild/moderate group was significantly larger than that of
advanced group (p = 0.047). The oropharyngeal transit time of the mild/moderate
group was significantly shorter than that of the advanced group (p = 0.045).
There was a significant negative correlation between the speed of tongue movement
and the oropharyngeal transit time (p = 0.003, R = -0.527). Prolonged mealtimes
and the ejection of insufficiently masticated food from the oral cavity into
oropharynx were associated with PD progression. These results indicate the
importance of the oral phase of swallowing in PD patients.

Langue : ANGLAIS