Effects of aging on the Biomechanical Properties of Human Vocal Folds

描述（由申请人提供）：从2000年到2030年，美国的老年人口将增加一倍以上，达到7210万。声音的粗糙和音质的下降是普遍存在的衰老迹象。声带的振动特性在很大程度上取决于声带固有层（LP）的刚度条件。刚度由细胞外基质的结构特性引起的声带LP机械特性的非线性和各向异性决定。因此，知识的LP的机械和微观结构特性随年龄的变化，可以阐明的主要原因影响粘膜波，声带振动和语音质量的老年人。这项研究的目的是三重的：首先，以确定固有的非线性和各向异性的LP机械性能及其对音高范围和关闭模式的影响，在体外发声测量的基础上，作为年龄的函数;其次，以确定潜在的贡献的弹性蛋白和胶原蛋白材料的性能的机械行为，并描绘在这些属性随年龄的变化。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The population of elderly in the United States will be more than doubled, numbering to 72.1 million, from 2000 to 2030. The roughness of voice and decline of voice quality are ubiquitous signs of aging. The vibratory characteristics of the vocal folds are largely governed by the stiffness conditions in the vocal folds lamina propria (LP). The stiffness is determined by the nonlinearity and anisotropy of vocal fold LP mechanical properties resulting from the structural properties of the extracellular matrix. Therefore, knowledge of alterations in the LP mechanical and microstructural properties with age can elucidate the primary causes affecting mucosal wave, vocal fold vibration and voice quality in elderly. The goal of this research proposal is three-fold: First, to determine the inherent nonlinearity and anisotropy of the LP mechanical properties and their influence on the pitch range and closure pattern, based on in vitro phonation measurements, as a function of age; secondly, to determine the underlying contribution of elastin and collagen material properties to the mechanical behavior, and delineate the alterations in these properties with age.