Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2025
06:59
In Vivo Evaluation of the Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of the Rat Tongue
Published on: July 6, 2017
8.7K
Tongue strength in progressive supranuclear palsy
Heather M Clark1, Julie A Stierwalt1, Gabriela Meade1
1Mayo Clinic Rochester Department of Neurology, USA.
Parkinsonism & Related Disorders
|April 18, 2025
Summary
Tongue weakness is common in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). This study found reduced tongue strength in PSP patients, correlating with disease severity but not directly causing swallowing issues.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Tongue weakness is a frequent symptom in neurological disorders like parkinsonism.
- Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting motor control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess tongue strength in individuals with PSP.
- To investigate the relationship between tongue strength, dysphagia, and dysarthria in PSP.
Main Methods:
- 119 participants with probable or possible PSP were evaluated.
- Motor speech assessments for dysarthria and dysphagia (using standardized scales) were performed.
- Anterior elevation tongue strength was measured via maximum tongue pressure against a palate-mounted bulb.
Main Results:
- Mean maximum tongue elevation pressure was 38 kPa.
- Tongue strength showed significant correlations with age, dysarthria severity, and overall disease severity.
- While weakly correlated with pharyngeal dysphagia, tongue strength was not differentially affected by dysarthria type.
Conclusions:
- Tongue strength in PSP patients is lower than in healthy adults or Parkinson's Disease patients.
- Reduced tongue strength in PSP may stem from age-related muscle loss and neurological damage.
- Reduced tongue strength alone does not appear to be the primary cause of dysphagia in PSP.
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