@article{Gallo_Clemenzi_Stolfa_Pagliuca_Nobili Benedetti_Caporale_Maselli del Giudice_Maino_de Robertis_Cariti_Barbara_2020, title={The secretory senescence of the oro-pharyngo-laryngeal tract}, volume={68}, url={https://www.jgerontology-geriatrics.com/article/view/218}, DOI={10.36150/2499-6564-483}, abstractNote={<p>Saliva is an essential body fluid. It is important in maintaining oral health, taste acuity, mastication, deglutition, digestion, regulation of oral flora, oral cleansing, voice acuity, and speech articulation. In the elderly, the glandular parenchyma undergoes involution of the cellular component, and this leads to a reduction in the production of saliva. Qualitative and quantitative alterations of this biological fluid can cause patient discomfort and quality of life decline. This often translates into xerostomia, whose real meaning is mouth dryness. We will discuss here causes of xerostomia in the elderly, such as drugs, head and neck radiotherapy, and autoimmune diseases.</p&gt;}, number={02 Special}, journal={JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS}, author={Gallo, Andrea and Clemenzi, Veronica and Stolfa, Andrea and Pagliuca, Giulio and Nobili Benedetti, Ferdinando Maria and Caporale, Claudio and Maselli del Giudice, Alessandro and Maino, Teresa and de Robertis, Valentina and Cariti, Francesco and Barbara, Francesco}, year={2020}, month={Jun.}, pages={69-76} }