Dementia with oropharyngeal dysphagia and myopathy.
A 72-year-old man was referred for geriatric evaluation with a view toward placement in institutional care. He presented originally to an internal medicine team with a six-month history of weight loss, constipation, generalized weakness, and apathy; investigations to rule out an underlying neoplasm were negative. Interdisciplinary assessment revealed coexisting dementia, myopathy, and oropharyngeal dysphagia. These findings prompted further diagnostic evaluation and a diagnosis of inflammatory myopathy with associated oropharyngeal dysphagia and dementia was made. The dementia, myopathy, and oropharyngeal dysphagia responded to steroids and rehabilitation and the patient regained his independence.
Jerrard-Dunne
P
P
Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. des.oneill@amnch.ie
Farrell
Z
Z
O'Neill
D
D
D000368:Aged; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000503:physiopathology*