Prosthodontic treatment for maintenance of cognitive function in elderly population: a cortical connectivity study

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25870802
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Prosthodontics/ Dental materials science and; Biomedical engineering/Biomaterial science and engineering
• Research Institution: Meiji University
• Principal Investigator: ONO Yumie 明治大学, 理工学部, 准教授 (10360207)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: NIRS / 機能的結合 / 咬合 / 認知

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Implant-supported overdentures (IOD) can expect significant improvements in oral functional status and quality of life of edentulous patients. We used functional brain imaging to investigate the change in brain regional activity during gum chewing and/or cognitive task when edentulous subjects switched from mandibular complete dentures (CD) to IOD. CD treatment altered the chewing-induced regional brain activity from those obtained from dentate age-matched participants, possibly due to the denture mobility and the change of general oral condition. IOD treatment returned the chewing-induced regional brain activity to the pattern similar to the dentate participants. The significant change with IOD was found as decreased activity in the frontal pole (FP) area and increased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Suppressed activity in FP after IOD treatment may reflect the improved mood with chewing, such as easiness and comfort.

Free Research Field

機能系基礎歯科学