Which condition is listed as a neurological or cognitive disorder that predisposes to aspiration pneumonia?

Which condition is listed as a neurological or cognitive disorder that predisposes to aspiration pneumonia?

• A. Asthma
• B. Parkinson's disease
• C. Hypertension
• D. Cholecystitis

Answer: (B)

Aspiration pneumonia risk rises when neurological or cognitive problems weaken the body's ability to protect the airway during swallowing. Parkinson's disease causes motor impairments that disrupt the coordination of the muscles used for swallowing and reduce the effectiveness of the cough and swallow reflex. This makes it easier for oropharyngeal contents to enter the lungs, leading to pneumonia. The other options are not neurological or cognitive disorders that impair swallowing and airway protection in the same way. Asthma affects the airways themselves, while hypertension and cholecystitis are unrelated to neurologic or cognitive causes of aspiration risk.

Aspiration pneumonia risk rises when neurological or cognitive problems weaken the body's ability to protect the airway during swallowing. Parkinson's disease causes motor impairments that disrupt the coordination of the muscles used for swallowing and reduce the effectiveness of the cough and swallow reflex. This makes it easier for oropharyngeal contents to enter the lungs, leading to pneumonia.

The other options are not neurological or cognitive disorders that impair swallowing and airway protection in the same way. Asthma affects the airways themselves, while hypertension and cholecystitis are unrelated to neurologic or cognitive causes of aspiration risk.