Oral care causes activation and reproduction of the cognitive brain network in the elderly

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25670899
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Social dentistry
• Research Institution: Kanagawa Dental College
• Principal Investigator: ISHIKAWA Eriko 神奈川歯科大学, 歯学研究科(研究院), 助教 (10104340)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): ONOZUKA Minoru 神奈川歯科大学, 歯学部, 名誉教授 (90084780) ; SUZUKI Yukie 湘南短期大学, 歯科衛生学科, 教授 (10123209)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 認知症 / 神経科学 / 口腔ケア / ブラッシング / かな拾いテスト / MMSE / ｆMRI / 簡易型光トポグラフィ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, in order to elucidate the effect of brushing stimulation on the cognitive function and activity of the prefrontal cortex in the elderly, we used a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and kana hiroi test (KHT).
We found that brushing causes not only further activation of the prefrontal cortex, but also increases in scores of MMSE and KHT, compared with those in the absence of brushing. The results suggest that brushing produces reinforcement of the awakening degree and consequent improvement of the cognitive function via an enhanced information of five senses. Furthermore, application of the oral care (brushing and/or fur removal) to the elderly, including bedridden elderly person, may be useful for prevention of dementia or an age-related decrease in cognitive function.

Free Research Field

老年学