Establishment of a new oral function evaluation method using perioral muscle characteristics (muscle mass, muscle quality, muscle stiffness)

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18801
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57080:Social dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Kohei Yamaguchi 東京医科歯科大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 講師 (70822550)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔機能低下症 / 超音波検査 / 咬筋 / オトガイ舌骨筋 / 筋硬度

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Oral hypofunction indicates a state in which modest functional deterioration has accumulated, but one of the characteristics is that it can be fully recovered with early intervention, and early detection is important. In this study, we investigated the relationship between oral hypofunction and perioral muscle characteristics (muscle mass, quality, and stiffness). As a result, both the masseter and the geniohyoid muscle were significantly related to the presence or absence of oral hypofunction. Since there are overwhelmingly many reports that muscle strength is related to muscle mass, the results of this study suggest the specificity of oral hypofunction.

Free Research Field

高齢者歯科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

口腔は咀嚼、嚥下、構音という重要な役割を担うので、全身の健康と強く関連する。口腔機能低下症は、早期介入による回復が見込め、口腔機能の改善に伴う全身への好影響も期待される。口腔機能低下症の診断は、7つの評価項目から成り、煩雑であり、普及を妨げる一因ともなっている。超音波診断装置を用いた簡易な口腔機能評価法が確立されれば、口腔機能低下症のより一層の普及や早期発見、早期介入につながり、口腔から全身の健康を支えることができる。超音波検査は簡易、非侵襲性で、多くの医療職も使用できるので、口腔に関わる知識を他職種へ広げる一助にもなるだろう。