Longitudinal Changes of Tongue Thickness and Tongue Pressure in Neuromuscular Disorders

Abstract Background Swallowing dysfunction is related to major cause of adverse events and an indicator shorter survival among patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMD). It critical assess the swallowing function during disease progression, however, there are limited tools that can easily evaluate without using videofluoroscopic or videoendoscopic examination. Here, we evaluated longitudinal changes in tongue thickness (TT) maximum pressure (MTP) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), Duchenne muscular (DMD). Methods Between 2010 2020, TT MTP were measured from 21 ALS, 30 DM1, 14 DMD (mean ages 66.9, 44.5, 21.4 years, respectively) at intervals more than half a year. was measured, by ultrasonography, as distance mylohyoid muscle raphe dorsum, determined measuring compression on small balloon when pressing against palate. Then examined relationship between these evaluations patient background function. Results Mean follow-up periods 24.0 months ALS group, 47.2 DM1group, 61.1 group. The group demonstrated larger first other groups, while DM1 had lower showed greater average monthly reduction mean reductions body weight (BW) groups. Significant differences last BW, TT, measures found only Conclusions This study suggests associated rapid degeneration over several years compared DM1.