A 9-year longitudinal study of the effect of oral function on the development of sarcopenia and frailty

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18598
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57050:Prosthodontics-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Murakami Hitomi (戸川瞳) 大阪大学, 歯学研究科, 招へい教員 (10845879)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: サルコペニア・フレイル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Prevention of sarcopenia and frailty as well as dementia is important for the prevention of long-term care in a super-aging society. In this study, we investigated the relationship between oral functions (oral wetness, occlusal force, tongue-lip motor function, tongue pressure, masticatory performance, and swallowing function) and the development of sarcopenia and frailty in elderly subjects aged 77 to 81 years. The results showed that tongue pressure and bite strength were significantly associated with muscle strength (grip strength). Swallowing function and tongue-lip motor function were significantly associated with physical performance (walking speed). The results suggest that these oral function indices may be useful as indicators of physical frailty.

Free Research Field

歯学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

要介護状態や寝たきりの原因とされているサルコペニア・フレイルの発症と口腔機能低下症との関連を明らかとし、介護予防につなげることが必要である。本研究の結果から、舌圧、咬合力、嚥下機能、舌口唇運動機能といった口腔機能指標は、高齢者の身体的フレイルのスクリーニングに有用である可能性が示された。さらに検討を進めることで、サルコペニア・フレイルを発症する基準値等の算出やサルコペニア・フレイルを予防するための口腔機能低下の診断基準を示し、口腔機能の維持・改善から介護予防につなげることで、医療費や社会費用の削減をもたらす可能性がある。