Dysphagia in Older Adults

Fred Saibil, MD, FRCPC, Staff Physician, Division of Gastroenterology, Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Science Centre, Associate Professor of Medicine,
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

Dysphagia is frequently under-rated as a symptom by both patients and their physicians. This article highlights the common causes of dysphagia in older patients and discusses the potential contributing factors in this age group. Newer therapies are also mentioned.

Key words: dysphagia, presbyesophagus, swallowing, motility.