Study of laryngeal and pharyngeal mechanism, kinematics measurements, safety and efficiency of swallowing in initial and intermediate stages of Parkinson Disease

• Grant number: 23/09450-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Lucia Figueiredo Mourão
• Grantee: Lucia Figueiredo Mourão
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ana Carolina Constantini
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/20788-6 - Laryngeal mechanism, measures of laryngeal vestibule closure, and swallowing safety in patients in the early and intermediate stages of Parkinson's disease., BP.TT

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, neurodegenerative and progressive disease. According to Braak (2004), the progression of the Parkinson's disease is divided into two phases, presymptomatic and symptomatic. In the pre-symptomatic phase, involvement is observed in the dorsal nucleus of the vagus nerve (specifically in the pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve and in the internal superior laryngeal nerve), in the anterior olfactory nucleus, in the olfactory bulb and in the glossopharyngeal nerve. The symptomatic phase occurs when the degeneration reaches the region of the substantia nigra pars compacta, pedunculopontine nucleus and amygdala, initiating the classic signs and symptoms of the disease, bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor and postural instability. Studies have demonstrated the presence of changes in the pharyngeal area and pharyngeal constriction in patients with PD when compared to the control group. This research project aims to evaluate the laryngeal and pharyngeal mechanism, the kinematic measures, the safety and efficiency of swallowing in 41 patients in the initial and intermediate stages of idiopathic PD. Anamnesis, drug control, application of the dysphagia risk questionnaire, and also phonatory task, videonasolaryngoscopic evaluation and swallowing videofluoroscopy assessment will be performed. This research project intends to better understand the pathophysiology of PD, according to the theoretical proposal by Braak (2004), and the impact on the laryngeal sensitivity, pharyngeal area and constriction, kinematics measurements, safety and efficiency of swallowing in patients with PD in the initial and intermediate stages, to better contribute to therapeutic decision-making in the early stages of Parkinson's disease. (AU)