Recent Clinical Developments in Dysphagia Management

Because of the aging population in Japan, the number of elderly people with dysphagia is increasing. This poses a hindrance to the improvement of frailty in this age group because of difficulties such people experience with nutritional intake. Aspiration is the leading cause of pneumonia in the elderly population. Dysphagia is a general term for symptoms caused by difficulties in swallowing food or liquids and is associated with a variety of conditions, such as aging, neurological diseases, and cerebrovascular diseases. An appropriate evaluation of dysphagia requires extensive knowledge and experience, and it has been reported that interpreting the results of evaluations may vary among evaluators with different levels of experience and skill. Early and accurate detection of dysphagia, as well as appropriate intervention, is essential for maintaining a safe and effective oral intake and good quality of life in the elderly. This review presents the recent advancements in the evaluation of dysphagia.