ABSTRACT
The characteristics of dysphagia vary according to the type of dementia. For example, people with Lewy body dementia and dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease are reported to have predominantly pharyngeal phase dysphagia whereas people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) tend to have oral phase dysfunction. Differences according to dementia subtype are rarely considered in clinical practice. Management of dysphagia in people with dementia, regardless of subtype, predominantly involves thickened fluids and modification of the mealtime environment. This case report describes the management of dysphagia in a woman with AD. This case is not unique, but it serves to illustrate the unnecessary use of thickened fluids in the absence of comprehensive objective assessments in people with dementia and dysphagia. It also considers the evidence for thickened fluids and discusses alternative intervention approaches for people with dementia and dysphagia.
