Maximum lingual pressure generation decreases with healthy aging as a function of:

Maximum lingual pressure generation decreases with healthy aging as a function of:

• A. Sarcopenia
• B. Increased Lingual Rigidity
• C. Lingual Hemiparesis
• D. None of the Above

Answer: (A)

Normal aging brings sarcopenia, the gradual loss of muscle mass and strength. Since the tongue is skeletal muscle, its ability to generate maximal pressure declines with age as part of this age-related muscle loss. This explains why maximum lingual pressure generation decreases even in healthy older adults. Increased lingual rigidity is not a typical feature of normal aging and suggests other conditions; lingual hemiparesis is due to focal brain injury such as a stroke, not aging. Therefore, sarcopenia best accounts for the observed decrease in tongue strength with aging.

Normal aging brings sarcopenia, the gradual loss of muscle mass and strength. Since the tongue is skeletal muscle, its ability to generate maximal pressure declines with age as part of this age-related muscle loss. This explains why maximum lingual pressure generation decreases even in healthy older adults. Increased lingual rigidity is not a typical feature of normal aging and suggests other conditions; lingual hemiparesis is due to focal brain injury such as a stroke, not aging. Therefore, sarcopenia best accounts for the observed decrease in tongue strength with aging.