Dysphagia is frequent in many neurological diseases and gives rise to severe complications such as malnutrition, dehydration and aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, early detection and management of dysphagia is essential and can reduce mortality. This study investigated the effect of cognitive and motor dual-task interference on swallowing in healthy participants, as dual-task effects are reported for other motor tasks such as gait and speech. 27 participants (17 females; 29.2 ± 4.1 years) were included in this prospective study and examined using flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). Using a previously established FEES-based score, the paradigms “baseline swallowing”, “cognitive dual-task” and “motor dual-task” were assessed. Scores of the three paradigms were compared using a repetitive measures ANOVA and post-hoc analysis. Mean baseline swallowing score in single task was 5 ± 3. It worsened to 6 ± 5 in the cognitive (p = 0.118), and to 8 ± 5 in the motor dual-task condition (p < 0.001). This change was driven by subclinical worsening of premature bolus spillage and pharyngeal residue. Oropharyngeal swallowing is not exclusively reflexive in nature but requires attention, which leads to motor dual-task interference. This has potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications, e.g. in the early screening for dysphagia or in avoiding dual-task situations while eating.

吞咽困难在许多神经系统疾病中屡见不鲜，并引起严重的并发症，如营养不良，脱水和吸入性肺炎。因此，吞咽困难的早期发现和处理至关重要，并且可以降低死亡率。这项研究调查了认知和运动双任务干扰对健康参与者吞咽的影响，因为据报道，其他运动任务（如步态和言语）也具有双任务效应。这项前瞻性研究纳入了27位参与者（17位女性； 29.2±4.1岁），并使用柔性内窥镜吞咽评估（FEES）进行了检查。使用先前建立的基于FEES的评分，评估了“基线吞咽”，“认知双重任务”和“运动双重任务”范式。使用重复测量方差分析和事后分析比较了三个范式的得分。p  = 0.118），并且在电动机双工条件下达到8±5（p  <0.001）。这种变化是由于亚临床早浓药溢出和咽部残留的恶化所致。口咽吞咽本质上不是唯一的反射性而是需要引起注意，这会导致运动双任务干扰。这具有潜在的诊断和治疗意义，例如在吞咽困难的早期筛查中或避免进食时出现双重任务情况。