A Cross-Sectional Study of Age-Related Changes in Oral Function in Healthy Japanese Individuals.

Kiyomi Iyota,Toshiko Futatsuki,Ryosuke Inoue,Misa Asao,Yuko Imai,Saori Oku,Shinsuke Mizutani,Haruhiko Kashiwazaki

doi:10.3390/ijerph17041376

Abstract

Background: Oral function deterioration is related to a variety of factors, including aging, decline in activities of daily living, malnutrition, and cognitive decline. This cross-sectional study examined the effects of aging on oral function in healthy individuals. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 175 healthy, independent patients aged 40–89 years, without dementia and with ≥20 teeth, who visited a local dental clinic in Japan. Patients were compared with 92 university students aged 20–29 years. The seven criteria proposed by the Japanese Society of Gerodontology to diagnose “oral hypofunction” were observed and statistically analyzed. Results: Compared with those in the control group, the degree of tongue coating was increased in the group aged over 80 years, occlusal force was decreased in the group aged 70–79 years, tongue motor function was decreased in the groups aged 60–69 years and older, and tongue pressure was decreased in the groups aged 70–79 years and older. Conclusions: Healthy, independent individuals maintained several oral function criteria across aging, including oral mucosal wetness, occlusal force, lip motor function, masticatory function, and swallowing function. Tongue motor function and tongue pressure decreased with aging, indicating that these may be rehabilitation targets.

Highlights

It is well known that many bodily functions deteriorate with aging, including oral functions. many studies have examined the effects of aging on each oral function, there has been no comprehensive report
Oral function deterioration is related to a variety of factors, including aging [2,3,4], a decline in activities of daily living (ADL) [5], malnutrition [6], and cognitive decline [7]
The current study retrospectively examined the seven criteria proposed by Japanese Society of Gerodontology (JSG) to diagnose oral hypofunction in independent individuals over 40 years of age in a dental clinic

Summary

Introduction

It is well known that many bodily functions deteriorate with aging, including oral functions. many studies have examined the effects of aging on each oral function, there has been no comprehensive report. The diagnostic criteria for oral hypofunction were presented by the Japanese Society of Gerodontology (JSG) [1] This concept involves an evaluation of individual items, and a comprehensive evaluation. Two items pertain to the oral environment (the degree of tongue coating and oral mucosal wetness), three are individual functions (occlusal force, tongue–lip motor function, and tongue pressure), and two are comprehensive functions (masticatory and swallowing functions). Oral function deterioration is related to a variety of factors, including aging, decline in activities of daily living, malnutrition, and cognitive decline This cross-sectional study examined the effects of aging on oral function in healthy individuals. Conclusions: Healthy, independent individuals maintained several oral function criteria across aging, including oral mucosal wetness, occlusal force, lip motor function, masticatory function, and swallowing function. Tongue motor function and tongue pressure decreased with aging, indicating that these may be rehabilitation targets

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion