Dysphagia in Parkinson Disease: Part I - Pathophysiology and Diagnostic Practices

Purpose of ReviewDysphagia affects the majority of individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) and is not typically diagnosed until later in disease progression. This review will cover the current understanding of PD pathophysiology, and provides an overview of dysphagia in PD including diagnostic practices, gaps in knowledge, and future directions.Recent FindingsMany non-motor and other motor signs of PD appear in the prodrome prior to the manifestation of hallmark signs and diagnosis. While dysphagia often presents already in the prodrome, it is not routinely addressed in standard neurology examinations.Dysphagia in PD can result in compromised efficiency and safety of swallowing, which significantly contributes to malnutrition and dehydration, decrease quality of life, and increase mortality. The heterogeneous clinical presentation of PD complicates diagnostic procedures which often leads to delayed treatment. Research has advanced our knowledge of mechanisms underlying PD, but dysphagia is still largely understudied, especially in the prodromal stage.

Automated summary

The majority of individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) experience dysphagia, which is often diagnosed late in the disease progression. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of PD pathophysiology and discusses the diagnostic practices, knowledge gaps, and future directions in dysphagia research.