Association between the Eating Assessment Tool-10 and electrokinesiographic study of swallowing in dementia
8 affiliations
- 1Unit of Behavioral Neurology and Dementia Research Center (DRC), IRCCS Mondino Foundation
- 2Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia
- 3Translational Neurophysiology Research Section, IRCCS Mondino Foundation
- 4Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Pavia
- 5Cognitive Psychology Research Section, IRCCS Mondino Foundation
- 6Advanced Imaging and Artificial Intelligence Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation
- 7University Institute of Advanced Studies (IUSS)
- 8Headache Science and Rehabilitation Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation
Abstract
In dementia, swallowing abnormalities are common and may remain clinically silent. The Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) is a screening tool for swallowing impairment, whereas the electrokinesiographic study of swallowing provides a non-invasive assessment of the oropharyngeal phase of swallowing. However, the relationship between these measures in dementia remains unclear. We enrolled 21 patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), 15 with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), and 11 controls. Assessments included the EAT-10, Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Appetite and Eating Habits Questionnaire (AEHQ), and suprahyoid electromyography (SHEMG), from which the SHEMG E/T-shape index and similarity index (SI) were derived. Associations were examined using Spearman correlations and robust regression adjusted for diagnosis and age. Potential swallowing impairment (EAT-10 ≥ 3) was present in 19.0% of AD and 26.7% of bvFTD. Higher EAT-10 scores were associated with higher SHEMG E/T-shape index (β = 3.89, p < 0.001) and lower SI (β=−3.39, p = 0.01), indicating more intense and less reproducible submental activation. The EAT-10 was also associated with Clinical Dementia Rating stage (β = 1.45, p = 0.04), MNA score (β=−0.22, p = 0.05), and AEHQ total score (ρ = 0.42, p = 0.01). In dementia, the EAT-10 is associated with specific electrophysiological and clinical profiles. Electrophysiology may provide complementary information to dysphagia screening to identify patients warranting further instrumental evaluation, although this requires confirmation.
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BibTeX
@article{ramusino2026association,
title = {{Association between the Eating Assessment Tool-10 and electrokinesiographic study of swallowing in dementia}},
author = {Matteo Cotta Ramusino and Camillo Imbimbo and Giulia Perini and Lucia Scanu and Mauro Fresia and Elena Ballante and Sara Bernini and Marta Picascia and Chiara Pullega and Carlo Asteggiano and Lisa Farina and Anna Pichiecchio and Stefano Cappa and Carla Giudice and Alfredo Costa and Enrico Alfonsi and Eduardo Caverzasi and Giuseppe Cosentino},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-62683-0},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-62683-0},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Association between the Eating Assessment Tool-10 and electrokinesiographic study of swallowing in dementia
AU - Matteo Cotta Ramusino
AU - Camillo Imbimbo
AU - Giulia Perini
AU - Lucia Scanu
AU - Mauro Fresia
AU - Elena Ballante
AU - Sara Bernini
AU - Marta Picascia
AU - Chiara Pullega
AU - Carlo Asteggiano
AU - Lisa Farina
AU - Anna Pichiecchio
AU - Stefano Cappa
AU - Carla Giudice
AU - Alfredo Costa
AU - Enrico Alfonsi
AU - Eduardo Caverzasi
AU - Giuseppe Cosentino
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-62683-0
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-62683-0
AB - In dementia, swallowing abnormalities are common and may remain clinically silent. The Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) is a screening tool for swallowing impairment, whereas the electrokinesiographic study of swallowing provides a non-invasive assessment of the oropharyngeal phase of swallowing. However, the relationship between these measures in dementia remains unclear. We enrolled 21 patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), 15 with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), and 11 controls. Assessments included the EAT-10, Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Appetite and Eating Habits Questionnaire (AEHQ), and suprahyoid electromyography (SHEMG), from which the SHEMG E/T-shape index and similarity index (SI) were derived. Associations were examined using Spearman correlations and robust regression adjusted for diagnosis and age. Potential swallowing impairment (EAT-10 ≥ 3) was present in 19.0% of AD and 26.7% of bvFTD. Higher EAT-10 scores were associated with higher SHEMG E/T-shape index (β = 3.89, p < 0.001) and lower SI (β=−3.39, p = 0.01), indicating more intense and less reproducible submental activation. The EAT-10 was also associated with Clinical Dementia Rating stage (β = 1.45, p = 0.04), MNA score (β=−0.22, p = 0.05), and AEHQ total score (ρ = 0.42, p = 0.01). In dementia, the EAT-10 is associated with specific electrophysiological and clinical profiles. Electrophysiology may provide complementary information to dysphagia screening to identify patients warranting further instrumental evaluation, although this requires confirmation.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -