RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the orofacial myofunctional characteristics, masticatory performance and facial thermal profile in individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) and spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA3), comparing with healthy control ones. METHOD: Seventy-two participants aged between 30 and 85 years were evaluated and divided into PD, SCA3 and control groups. The assessments included clinical evaluation using the Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores protocol (orofacial structures, mastication, swallowing and breathing aspects), masticatory performance assessed with a colour-changeable chewing gum and infrared thermography. The Kruskal-Wallis, one-way ANOVA and Wilcoxon tests were applied. RESULTS: With the exception of face and tongue, a difference was seen in the cheek, maxillomandibular relationship, lips, mentalis muscle and palate appearance and posture between patients and healthy control participants. Orofacial mobility, swallowing and masticatory function also scored higher in the control group. The SCA3 and PD groups required more time to eat the test-food and showed greater facial temperature asymmetries than the control one (p < 0.05). Masticatory performance measured by chewing gum did not differ. CONCLUSION: Facial temperature asymmetries, swallowing and masticatory function scores and the time needed by the SCA3 and PD groups to eat the test-food were different from healthy participants, drawing attention to the impaired orofacial functions in patients with neurodegenerative disorders.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To characterize orofacial myofunctional structures of elders with Parkinson's disease (PD) and examine the relationship with the stages of PD, pharmacotherapy, and quality of life. METHODS: PD Group with 45 elders and a control group (CG) of 10 healthy elders of both sexes were included (60-86 years). Structured interviews, medical records, and clinical examination gathered information on health aspects such as the use of drugs, Hoehn & Yahr stages 1-4, and oral health status. The Mini-Mental State Examination, Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire, and Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores for Elders were applied. RESULTS: Better oral health status was found in participants diagnosed as Hoehn & Yahr stage 1 compared to the later stages. OMES-Elders scores for appearance/posture, mobility, breathing, and speech functions were different between groups, and decreased overall OMES-Elders was observed across the Hoehn & Yahr stages. A higher number of masticatory cycles was required for chewing and ingestion of the test food in the PD group compared to CG (p < .05). Significant differences were found in the mobility and daily living activities domains and an overall score of QoL between the Hoehn & Yahr stages 1 and 4, and worst orofacial functioning was accompanied by the worst self-perception of QoL in the communication domain (rho = -0.32; p = .034). The use of xerogenic drugs did not affect the OMES-Elders swallowing domain. CONCLUSION: Worse dental condition and performance of orofacial functions was observed in the elders with PD as the disease progresses, and poorer orofacial performance negatively affects their perception of communication skills.