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Published on: January 5, 2018
Relationship between age and drinking instructions on the modification of drinking behavior.
Yanni Yang1, Li Pyn Leow, Wai Lam Yoon
1Division of Graduate Medical Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 12 Medical Drive, Singapore. yang_yanni@yahoo.com
Dysphagia
|July 26, 2011
Summary
Older adults struggle to slow their drinking rate and reduce bolus size when instructed, unlike younger adults. This highlights potential risks in healthcare settings when advising older patients to drink slowly.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Physiology
- Swallowing Mechanics
Background:
- Safe drinking behavior recommendations vary by age.
- Understanding age-related differences in following drinking instructions is crucial for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related differences in drinking speed and bolus size.
- To compare how young and older adults follow instructions to alter their drinking rate.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 30 young (mean age 24.7) and 30 older (mean age 66.9) healthy female participants.
- Participants drank water under three conditions: normal, as quickly as possible, and slowly.
- Measured drinking speed and bolus size.
Main Results:
- Both age groups increased drinking speed similarly when asked to drink quickly.
- Older adults were significantly less able to slow their drinking rate compared to young adults (P < .001).
- Older adults consumed significantly larger bolus sizes than young adults when instructed to drink slowly.
Conclusions:
- Standard advice to "drink slowly" may be insufficient for older patients.
- Healthcare providers should carefully observe older patients' drinking behavior after such instructions.
- Additional, specific strategies may be needed to ensure safe drinking in older adults.
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