Table 1.

Pharyngeal collapsibility in elderly

Airway resistance during sleep(33, 172)	Increased
Deposition of parapharyngeal fat(173)	Increased or Decreased
Pharyngeal musculature activity(30)	Decreased
Lung elastic recoil (affects lung volume and tracheal traction)(32)	Decreased
Upper airway dimensions (fat deposition, structure changes, loss of teeth, etc.)(173)	Decreased
Sleep fragmentation(34)	Increased
Alterations of the pharynx muscular dilatory reflexes(174)	Increased
Respiratory instability during sleep (central events)(175)	Increased