Improving swallowing muscles in older adults through exercises
Official title: Proactive pharyngeal swallowing exercises: Building muscular reserve in pre-frail older adults
Funded at New York University · NIH-10929438 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether doing special swallowing exercises can help older adults who have trouble swallowing by making their throat muscles stronger, and it will involve participants doing these exercises for 12 weeks to see how it improves their swallowing ability.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $747,120 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG079907-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10929438 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are community-dwelling older adults experiencing swallowing difficulties.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing swallowing difficulties or have severe swallowing disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how proactive swallowing exercises can enhance the strength and function of throat muscles in older adults who have difficulty swallowing. The study will involve community-dwelling older adults who will first undergo a 12-week no-treatment phase, followed by a randomized assignment to either a swallowing exercise program or a control group. Participants will engage in exercises five days a week for 12 weeks, with some receiving protein supplement drinks to assess their combined effects. Comprehensive assessments will be conducted to measure changes in muscle composition and function before and after the intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve swallowing function and reduce the risk of malnutrition and pneumonia in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using exercise to improve muscle function in older adults, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Molfenter, Sonja M — New York University
- Study coordinator: Molfenter, Sonja M
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.