Early detection and early intervention against the dysphagia that results from Sarcopenia in older people

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K11197
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Prosthodontics/ Dental materials science and
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: NAGAO Kan 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(歯学系), 准教授 (30227988)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: オトガイ舌骨筋 / Myosin Heavy Chain / 嚥下機能 / 咀嚼機能 / presbyphagia / 超音波測定

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of our study was to clarify the influence of age-related geniohyoid (GH) muscle morphorogy on the masticatory/swallowing function. Our hypothesis is that tooth loss leads to morphorogical changes in the GH muscle, resulting the masticatory/swallowing function. To verify this hypothesis, we conducted two experiments. In experiment 1, malocclusion was induced by tooth extraction in 6-month-old male rats. In extraction group, tooth loss induces muscular atrophy in GH muscles. In experiment 2, cross sectional area (CSA) of GH muscle was measured using ultrasonic device and masticatory/swallowing functions were evaluated in 103 subjects. Decline in CSA of GH muscle was associated with the decline in the masticatory function indirectly and the swallowing function directly.
In conclusion, our study revealed that morphological changes in the GH muscle can predict reduced swallowing function.

Free Research Field

高齢者歯科