Evaluation of lingual function by motion capture system and tongue pressure measurement for the elderly.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K24140
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Shitara Satoko 新潟大学, 医歯学総合病院, 医員 (10848261)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 舌運動 / 舌圧 / 水嚥下 / 高齢者

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Simultaneous measurement of tongue pressure and tongue movement during swallowing was performed for patients aged 65 years or older without the denture who were visiting the dental outpatient department of Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital.
The results of the elderly showed that the basic tongue movement pattern was the same as that of the healthy young people, and tongue movement did not modulate with changes in liquid volume. However, although there was no significant difference in the elderly, the time when the tongue was in contact with the palate tended to be prolonged, and it was observed that the tongue movement was slow.

Free Research Field

舌運動と舌圧の同時計測

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢者は，様々な要因で嚥下機能は低下する．そのため，高齢者の舌圧は，健常者との比較だけでなく，握力などの身体機能や低栄養など全身状態との関係性についても研究されており，様々な報告がある．しかし，舌運動との関係性についての報告は今までになく，実際にどのように舌が動いているかは不明である．そこで，高齢者の舌運動と舌圧を同時測定し，加齢による嚥下時舌運動の変化を科学的に評価できれば，臨床の場において高齢者の舌運動の特徴を加味した嚥下障害に対する治療計画やリハビリテーションの提案に役立てることができると考えている．