" The reason that we see dysphagia in persons with dementia is multifactorial. It has to do with the changes that are happening in the brain during the neurodegenerative process of dementia, but also there are changes that happen with advancing age. Given that dementia onset is usually in older individuals, there are changes that happen in muscle function. And, there are quite a few muscles and nerves that are involved in swallowing. The changes related to age plus the changes that are happening with the disease all combine to contribute to the onset of dysphagia. "