Article

The risk of aspiration pneumonia in Parkinson's disease (PD) may be increased by
sensory loss in the laryngopharynx and a reduced cough reflex. This study
investigated changes in chemo- and mechanosensation with age and in PD and
documented cough thresholds and cortical influences over cough. Single-breath
citric acid inhalation cough challenge and flexible nasendoscopy were performed
in 32 participants with idiopathic PD (mean age = 68.5 years, range = 45.8-82.5)
and 16 healthy young adults (8 males, mean age = 25.1 years, range = 21.3-32.4),
and 16 healthy elders (8 males, mean age = 72.8 years, range = 61.5-84.7) as
controls. Individuals with PD had reduced sensation at the base of the tongue
compared to age- and gender-matched counterparts (p < 0.005). All groups
demonstrated lower natural cough thresholds than suppressed cough thresholds. No
differences in natural cough thresholds were found across groups. Young adults
demonstrated greater ability to suppress cough compared to healthy elders (p =
0.021). Tongue-base mechanosensory impairment in PD may account for vallecular
residue and complaints of globus sensation. However, decreased cough response was
not found to be a characteristic of PD. This study provided evidence for
voluntary control of cough and the lack of decline of chemosensitivity with age
or disease.

Langue : ANGLAIS