並列摘要
Swallowing function degenerates with age. Swallowing difficulties not only make the elderly hesitate to eat and increase the chances of dehydration and malnutrition, but also make them susceptible to aspiration pneumonia and social isolation because of embarrassment about eating in front of others. This article aims to review the age effects on swallowing mechanism, including the changes of oral mucosa and oral sensation, weakening of oropharyngeal muscle power, compromised swallowing and cough reflex, and displacement of hyoid bone and hyoepiglottic ligament. We hope that by enhancing the awareness among professionals, swallowing difficulties in the elderly could be detected earlier and timely therapeutic treatments could be provided to reduce the swallowing-related complications and disability.