Development of a new diagnostic method for sarcopenic dysphagia and verification of rehabilitation effect

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19323
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57080:Social dentistry-related
• Research Institution: The Nippon Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Yokota Yuri (矢島悠里) 日本歯科大学, 生命歯学部, 臨床講師 (50803219)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Sarcopenic Dysphagia / サルコペニア / 嚥下造影検査

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to verify the usefulness of videofluoroscopic swallow study VFSS as a diagnostic method for swallowing disorders caused by sarcopenia (Sarcopenic dysphagia) and to verify the effect of rehabilitation implementation.
At the first visit, there was a relationship between skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), which is an indicator of sarcopenia, tongue pressure, and pharyngeal area.
In addition, rehabilitation was performed for half a year, and those with improved SMI showed a decrease in pharyngeal cavity cross-sectional area, an increase in laryngeal position, and an increase in the amount of laryngeal forward movement. Furthermore, the rate of change in SMI was related to the rate of change in the pharyngeal area. This suggests the usefulness of measuring the pharyngeal area by VFSS.

Free Research Field

摂食嚥下リハビリテーション

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

嚥下機能検査でgolden standardとされる嚥下造影検査（VFSS）において、咽頭腔断面積を測定することでサルコペニアによる嚥下障害の診断が行える可能性が考えられた。個人の咽頭腔断面積を経時的に評価することで、リハビリテーション効果の確認を行うことができ、本人のモチベーション向上にもつながると考えられた。
本研究により得られた成果は、今後Sarcopenic Dysphagiaのリハビリテーションを検討する一助となると考える。