Dysphagia is more common in the elderly than in
younger persons[32]. Selective neurodegeneration may occur
in the aging enteric nervous system (reviewed in Saffrey)[33],
and may contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms such
as dysphagia, gastrointestinal reflux and constipation.
Interestingly, caloric restriction in rodents can prevent
the neuronal losses that occur with aging, suggesting that
diet may influence gastrointestinal aging[34]. Alterations
in esophageal motility may be due to reductions in the
number of neurons in the myenteric plexus of the
elderly[