:

What Makes Older Adults Higher Risk for Aspiration?

According to the National Institutes of Health, aspiration pneumonia accounts for up to 86.7% of pneumonia cases in older people. This elevated risk is a result of a complex interplay of age-related physiological changes and underlying health conditions, all of which contribute to what makes older adults higher risk for aspiration. Factors range from slowed reflexes and weakened muscles to neurological issues that impair swallowing coordination.