 In those over age 65, the initiation of laryngeal and pharyngeal events, including laryngeal vestibule closure, are delayed significantly longer than in adults younger than 45 years of age.Although the specific neural underpinning is not confirmed it might be hypothesized that oral events become “uncoupled” from the pharyngeal response, which includes airway protection.Thus, in older healthy adults it is not uncommon for the bolus to be adjacent to an open airway by pooling or pocketing in the pharyngeal recesses, for more time than in younger adults.