Imagine this: it’s a hot day, you’ve been working in the garden outside, and you’re feeling thirsty. A tall glass of cool, ice water sits on the table in front of you. You put the glass to your lips and take several long, big sips. It’s a refreshing moment with a skill that many of us often take for granted: swallowing.

Among the subtle shifts that occur with aging, changes in eating and swallowing often take a back seat in discussions about other top concerns such as mobility, vision, and hearing, or cognitive abilities. Yet changes in eating and swallowing can …