Development of a combined improvement program for oral function and nutritional intake that extends healthy aging through "food"

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18648
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57050:Prosthodontics-related
• Research Institution: Nihon University
• Principal Investigator: IGARASHI Kentaro 日本大学, 松戸歯学部, 助教 (00843971)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔機能低下症 / オーラルフレイル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The results revealed that oral function and nutrition influence the occurrence of frailty in community-dwelling older adults, and it became clear that a decline in both oral function and malnutrition increases the risk of developing frailty in the future. Furthermore, among patients visiting community dental clinics, the prevalence of oral hypofunction was found to be significantly higher for patients with missing teeth than for older adults living in the community. In addition, when the age-related decline in oral function was depicted using a percentile curve, it was suggested that occlusal force, tongue-lip motor function, tongue pressure, and masticatory function may be indicators of significant age-related functional decline.

Free Research Field

老年歯科医学・歯科補綴学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究結果によって、口腔機能低下症の実態が明らかとなり、７項目の口腔機能のうち、３項目を口腔機能低下症として考える現状の評価法に加えて、加齢に伴う低下のパターンや歯科的な問題を抱えている場合の実態、およびその対応法についての基礎的なデータを還元することができたと考えている。