Dementia with oropharyngeal dysphagia and myopathy

A 72-year-old man was referred for geriatric evaluation with a view toward placement in institutional care. He presented originally to an internal medicine team with a six-month history of weight loss, constipation, generalized weakness, and apathy; investigations to rule out an underlying neoplasm were negative. Interdisciplinary assessment revealed coexisting dementia, myopathy, and oropharyngeal dysphagia. These findings prompted further diagnostic evaluation and a diagnosis of inflammatory myopathy with associated oropharyngeal dysphagia and dementia was made. The dementia, myopathy, and oropharyngeal dysphagia responded to steroids and rehabilitation and the patient regained his independence.