Changes
to nerves in throat lead to medical iss
ues
in elderly
Newswise — As we grow older, changes to the
nerves in the throat result in less sensitivity,
which may play a role in why the elderly are
more likely to develop repeat cases of
pneumonia, as well as trouble swallowing (dysphagia)
and aspiration, according to a new study
published in the May 2007 edition of
Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery.
The small study, which contains preliminary,
hypothesis-generating findings, found that the
total number of myelinic fibers in the superior
and recurrent laryngeal nerves in adults in the
younger of two age groups was significantly
higher than that of a group comprised of the
elderly.
Myelinic fibers surround nerves and control
pulses between the brain and other parts of the
body. The study suggests the loss of these
fibers is a primary cause of the decrease in
pharlyngeal and supralottic sensitivity that is
associated with the aging process, leading to an
increase in certain problems.
The study observed the cadavers of healthy men
from two age groups; the younger group averaged
46 years old, while the older group’s average
age was 78. During that time period, the authors
discovered, the number of myelinic fibers in the
recurrent laryngeal nerves decreases by nearly
30 percent.
Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery is the
official scientific journal of the American
Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck
Surgery (AAO-HNS). The study’s authors are
Romualdo Tiago, MD, PhD; Paulo Pontes, MD,
PhD; and Osiris C. Brasil, MD, PhD. They are
associated with the Federal University of
Sao Paulo, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
About the AAO-HNS
The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head
and Neck Surgery (www.entnet.org), one of the
oldest medical associations in the nation,
represents more than 12,000 physicians and
allied health professionals who specialize in
the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the
ears, nose, throat, and related structures of
the head and neck.
The Academy serves its members by facilitating
the advancement of the science and art of
medicine related to otolaryngology and by
representing the specialty in governmental and
socioeconomic issues. The organization’s
mission: “Working for the Best Ear, Nose, and
Throat Care.”
