Effect of deterioration of oral function on brain activity

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K10252
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57050:Prosthodontics-related
• Research Institution: Health Sciences University of Hokkaido
• Principal Investigator: Kawanishi Katsuya 北海道医療大学, 歯学部, 准教授 (10438377)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 豊下 祥史 北海道医療大学, 歯学部, 准教授 (20399900) ; 藤井 博匡 北海道医療大学, その他, 客員教授 (70209013) ; 越野 寿 北海道医療大学, 歯学部, 教授 (90186669) ; 長澤 敏行 北海道医療大学, 歯学部, 教授 (90262203)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔機能低下 / 咀嚼 / MRI

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to use manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI) to examine the effects of oral dysfunction, such as masticatory defects due to periodontal disease and neglect of missing teeth following tooth extraction, on brain function.
A model mouse with defective dentition and a mouse model with periodontal disease were created as models of oral function decline, and were fed solid food for a certain period of time in a singly housed environment. As a result of MEMRI measurements, the signal intensity was decreased in the hippocampus in the missing dentition model mouse compared to healthy mice, and the signal intensity was decreased in the hippocampus and putamen in the periodontal disease model mouse. This indicates that the decline in oral function affects the decline in neural activity in the brain.

Free Research Field

歯科補綴学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、歯周病による咀嚼不全や抜歯に附随して生じる欠損歯列の放置などの口腔機能低下が脳内神経活動の低下に影響する可能性について画像分析を用いて示した。これまでの咬合・咀嚼機能と脳機能に関する研究からも新たな脳機能イメージングとして検証できたことは学術的意義が高いと考える。また、口腔機能管理を怠ることが脳機能に何らかのリスクを与える可能性があることを示すことで、歯周病や抜歯に伴う欠損歯列を放置したまま過ごしている国民に対する口腔リテラシーの向上につながることから社会的意義は高いと考える。