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Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models
Published on: March 1, 2015
Effects of physostigmine on swallowing and oral motor functions in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy: A
C M Frattali1, B C Sonies, G Chi-Fishman
1Speech-Language Pathology Section, Rehabilitation Medicine Department, W.G. Magnuson Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
This pilot study found that physostigmine did not improve swallowing or oral motor issues in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) patients. Further research into other cholinergic agents is recommended for these patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting motor control.
- Swallowing and oral motor disturbances are common and debilitating symptoms in PSP patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of cholinergic stimulation in ameliorating swallowing and oral motor disturbances in patients with PSP.
- To assess the effects of physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, on motor functions in PSP.
Main Methods:
- A controlled, double-blind, crossover pilot study design was employed.
- Patients received either physostigmine or placebo for 10 days in a randomized sequence.
- Oropharyngeal ultrasound imaging and oral motor examinations were used for evaluation.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant improvements in oral motor functions or swallow durations were observed with physostigmine treatment.
- Patients with PSP demonstrated no benefit from this specific cholinergic stimulation protocol.
Conclusions:
- Cholinergic stimulation with physostigmine is not effective for improving swallowing and oral motor deficits in PSP.
- Future research should explore novel cholinergic agonists and combination therapies for less-impaired PSP patients.
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