2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Effects of Oral Function on Low Nutrition and Cognitive Impairment: Preventive Measures from a Dental Perspective

Research Project

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Project/Area Number	19H03899
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Review Section	Basic Section 58030:Hygiene and public health-related: excluding laboratory approach
Research Institution	Hyogo University of Teacher Education
Principal Investigator	Okamoto Nozomi 兵庫教育大学, 大学院学校教育研究科, 教授 (70364057)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	中村富予龍谷大学, 農学部, 教授 (00413401) 森川将行奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 研究員 (30305726) 柳元和帝塚山大学, 現代生活学部, 教授 (60331732) 天野信子甲南女子大学, 医療栄養学部, 准教授 (70300358) 伊藤加代子新潟大学, 医歯学総合病院, 助教 (80401735)
Project Period (FY)	2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
Keywords	高齢者 / 認知機能 / 歯周病 / 栄養
Outline of Final Research Achievements	In the association between the number of remaining teeth and periodontopathogenic bacteria serum antibody titer and cognitive dysfunction in the elderly, there was a significant association between fewer teeth and cognitive dysfunction with an odds ratio of 1.06 (95% CI; 1.01-1.11, P= 0.030) for one fewer tooth for MMSE score below 23. In relation to oral function and nutritional status, inability to chew all five food groups was significantly associated with a BMI below 21 (odds ratio 1.51: 95% CI 1.21-1.89). Most of the study period coincided with the spread of novel coronavirus infection, making it difficult to conduct in-person oral and cognitive function tests. However, mailed and web-based questionnaires were administered and responses were obtained from new subjects.
Free Research Field	衛生学・公衆衛生学
Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements	本研究の目的は、高齢者における認知機能障害の発生に関して、「①歯周病による慢性炎症が脳内の炎症を増強させる可能性」と「②多数歯欠損で生じる咀嚼力低下が抗酸化作用のある果物・野菜やタンパク質の供給源である肉類の摂取頻度の減少と低栄養を引き起こす可能性」の2つの機序を想定し、疫学的に検証することであった。本研究の成果から、歯周病が認知機能に関与するとともに、重度の歯周病の結果、多数歯欠損の状態になると低栄養のために70歳以降で認知機能障害の危険性が増すと推測される。歯科からみたライフステージ別の認知機能障害の予防対策を立案する必要がある。