Elderly people have difficulty moving their tongues, resulting in unclear speech.

In general, unclear speech or difficulty moving the tongue in elderly individuals may be caused by physiological factors, or it could result from pathological conditions such as facial nerve paralysis or Alzheimer's disease. Targeted treatment should be based on the specific underlying cause. The details are as follows:

1. Physiological Factors

Generally, with increasing age, various organs in the body undergo degeneration and aging. If the nervous system degenerates in elderly individuals, it may affect tongue function. This is usually considered a normal phenomenon and does not require special treatment.

2. Pathological Factors

1) Facial Nerve Paralysis

This condition is commonly associated with factors such as exposure to cold or infection, which can damage the facial nerve, leading to symptoms including drooping of the mouth corner, slurred speech, and air leakage while speaking. In such cases, patients should take medications like vitamin B6 tablets or mecobalamin tablets under medical guidance to improve symptoms.

2) Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system, frequently seen in older adults. Patients may experience symptoms such as language impairment, cognitive decline, and memory loss. Treatment typically involves medications such as rivastigmine tartrate capsules or huperzine A tablets, taken under a doctor’s supervision.

Besides the above-mentioned common causes, other conditions such as Parkinson's disease, hypertension, or cerebral hemorrhage may also be responsible. Patients should seek timely medical attention to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment.