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NCT05963113NARecruitingAccepts Healthy Volunteers

Pharyngeal Exercise (Plus Protein)

NYU Langone Health

Start Date

5/22/2024

Completion Date

12/31/2028

Summary

The swallowing muscles are prone to decreased strength and function as part of the natural aging process which can lead to difficulty swallowing, malnutrition, and frailty. Exercise and nutrition are powerful stimulators of muscular change. The proposed research will investigate the effectiveness of a 12-week proactive regimen of swallowing exercises (with or without daily protein supplement drinks) to improve the composition, force, and physiology of the swallowing muscles and explore the relationship to overall health and physical function in 80 community-dwelling older adults. Each participant will serve as their own control for 12 weeks before being randomized to complete swallowing exercises alone or swallowing exercises with protein drinks.

Eligibility Criteria

Age Range: 65 years to No maximum

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Participants must be 65 years of age or older. 2. Participants must score a 1 or 2 on the FRAIL scale OR a 4 or greater on the Strength, Assistance in Walking, Rise from a Chair, Climb Stairs and Falls (SARC-F) Questionnaire. 3. Participants must score 26 or greater on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). 4. Willingness to participate in the study procedures. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Known structural or neurological causes of dysphagia. 2. Cannot consume high levels of protein (Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3 or higher). 3. Contraindications to 3T whole body MRI scanners (e.g., pacemaker, cerebral aneurysm clip, cochlear implant, presence of shrapnel in strategic locations, metal in the eye, claustrophobia, or other problems).

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Pharyngeal Swallowing Exercises

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Protein Supplementation

DEVICE

MRI

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Conditions

Pre-Frail Older Adults

Locations

NYU Steinhardt School of Education

New York, New York 10003

United States

NYU Langone Health

New York, New York 10017

United States