Examination of usefulness for oral hypofunction as an improving factor for frailty and sarcopenia

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K23117
• 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: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: Nakamura Maya 鹿児島大学, 鹿児島大学病院, 助教 (30876199)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔機能低下症 / フレイル / サルコペニア / 軽度認知障害 / コホート

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study used data from a large cohort study to clarify the relationship between oral hypofunction and frailty, sarcopenia, and mild cognitive impairment.
As a result of statistical examination, oral hypofunction was predominant in frailty, sarcopenia and mild cognitive impairment, and a significant difference was found in these proportions.The risk factors for frailty were swallowing function, and the risk factors for mild cognitive impairment were occlusal force and tongue pressure.
From the results of this study, frailty remains as an independent risk factor for swallowing function, and for mild cognitive impairment, occlusal force and tongue pressure remain as independent risk factors. It was suggested that it may help improvement.

Free Research Field

老年学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、歩いて参加できる住民を対象としているが、一定の割合で口腔および全身の機能低下者を認めたことから、このような参加者への早期発見・早期介入が健康寿命の延伸につながると考えられる。また、多変量解析においてフレイルは嚥下機能が、軽度認知障害は咬合力と舌圧が独立したリスク因子として残ったことから、これらのリスク因子を改善することで、口腔機能の改善が、全身状態改善の一助となりうると思われる。