This is interesting research from Sweden on the effect of carbonated liquid on swallowing dysfunction. Though the study was done on 48 patients with Lewy body dementia, the findings likely apply to all in the Brain Support Network community.
Two interesting points were made:
1- While 40 patients had swallowing dysfunction confirmed through videofluoroscopy, 14 of these did not perceive they had swallowing symptoms.
2- Out of the patients with swallowing dysfunction, 87% had “an overall improved swallowing function with carbonated liquid.” This was true even that the pharyngeal transit time of carbonated liquid was quicker than think liquid or thickened liquid.
Of course you can test whether carbonated liquids work (for you or for your family member) by requesting they be tried during videofluoroscopy.
The abstract is below.
Robin
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www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28848329
Clinical Interventions in Aging. 2017 Aug 8;12:1215-1222.
Effects of carbonated liquid on swallowing dysfunction in dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease dementia.
Larsson V, Torisson G, Bülow M, Londos E.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Swallowing dysfunction is an increasingly recognized problem in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD), which can result in aspiration pneumonia and death. Few studies have examined potential ways of improving swallowing function in this fragile patient group. The aim of this study was to evaluate swallowing dysfunction and carbonated liquid using videofluoroscopy in DLB and PDD patients.
METHODS:
A total of 48 patients with DLB and PDD were referred for a clinical examination with videofluoroscopy. Descriptive overall assessments were provided at the time of the examination regarding swallowing function and the effects of different modifications, including carbonated thin liquid (CTL). Additionally, a repeated measures quantitative retrospective analysis has been performed comparing 1) thin liquids; 2) thickened liquids and 3) CTLs, with regard to the quantitative variables 1) pharyngeal transit time (PTT); 2) pharyngeal retention and 3) tracheal penetration.
RESULTS:
In all, 40/48 (83%) of the patients had a swallowing dysfunction, which was confirmed on videofluoroscopy, with 34/40 (85%) patients having a pharyngeal-type dysfunction. A total of 14/40 (35%) patients with an objective swallowing impairment did not have any subjective swallowing symptoms. Out of the patients with swallowing dysfunction, 87% had an overall improved swallowing function with carbonated liquid. PTT for carbonated liquid (median 633 ms, interquartile range [IQR] 516-786 ms) was quicker than for thin liquid (760 ms, IQR 613-940 ms, P=0.014) and thickened liquid (880.0 ms, IQR 600-1,500 ms, P<0.001). No significant effect was seen in residue or penetration.
CONCLUSION:
The majority of patients with DLB or PDD had a swallowing dysfunction, sometimes without subjective swallowing symptoms, which improved with carbonated liquid. This highlights the importance of investigating patients with videofluoroscopy and to carry out a prospective interventional study to further evaluate carbonated liquid, also addressing the effects on quality of life, aspiration and mortality.