Chapter 37 - Swallowing impairment in Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Swallowing is a coordinated activity that allows the uninterrupted passage of oral contents (food, saliva, or secretions) into the stomach. Any disorder in the swallowing process that presents a risk of penetration/aspiration is called dysphagia. The term oropharyngeal dysphagia is used when alterations are characterized by impairment in the oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a symptom with high prevalence and severity in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and impairs the safe swallowing of food or saliva, leading to risks such as dehydration, malnutrition, and aspiration pneumonia, and even mortality.