Final answer:
Presbyphagia is the term for the natural decline of swallowing functions due to aging, which involves complexities in all phases of deglutition and can be exacerbated by sarcopenia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Continuous and degenerative changes in swallowing functions in healthy aging are typically referred to as presbyphagia. This term involves the natural decline of the swallowing mechanism as part of the aging process. The complex process of swallowing, or deglutition, has several phases: the voluntary phase, where the tongue pushes the bolus to the back of the oral cavity; the pharyngeal phase, where the soft palate and uvula close off the nasopharynx; and the esophageal phase, controlled by the autonomic nervous system. In aging individuals, changes in digestive system functions may result in sensitivity loss in taste buds, reduced salivary production, and decreased muscle strength and tone, thus affecting all aspects of swallowing from the voluntary initiation to the involuntary propulsion of food through the alimentary canal. Additionally, sarcopenia, the gradual decrease in the ability to maintain skeletal muscle mass that occurs in later adulthood, can further complicate the swallowing process.