Abstract
Chewing ability is also related to activities of daily living (ADLs) and nutritional status; however, these associations have not been firmly established. We examined chewing ability as a predictor variable and explored its relationship with cognitive functioning as mediated by ADLs and nutritional status data were collected by face-to-face interviews. Patients were receiving home healthcare service in Mun-gyeong city, Gyung-buk, Korea. Participants comprised 295 patients aged 81.35 ± 6.70 years. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed using AMOS 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The model fit was based on absolute fit index and incremental fit index. Data were collected to assess cognitive functioning (using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental Status Examination for dementia screening (MMSE-DS)), ADL, a mini-nutritional assessment (MNA) questionnaire, and a chewing ability test. Participants with better chewing ability had significantly better cognitive functioning, ADLs, and nutritional status (p < 0.001). Chewing ability directly affected cognitive functioning and indirectly affected how ADLs and MNA affected MMSE-DS. Chewing ability is an important factor influencing the cognitive functioning of elderly adults in Korea, both directly and indirectly through mediating variables such as nutritional status and ADLs. Efforts to help older adults maintain their chewing ability are necessary for preventing cognitive impairment.
Highlights
The global demographic trend continues to age, with lower birth rates and increasing average life expectancy [1], and such trends are accelerating [2]
Dementia is a multifaceted disorder with strategies that can be used to combat it when detected in the early stages; most of these symptoms can be underestimated as simple forgetfulness and physical disabilities, owing to old age
When the participants were divided into groups with high, middle, and low chewing ability, the group with high chewing ability had significantly high ADL and instrumental ADLs (IADLs)
Summary
The global demographic trend continues to age, with lower birth rates and increasing average life expectancy [1], and such trends are accelerating [2]. In 2015 among the entire population of Korea, 13.1% were elderly individuals aged > 65 years, representing. 6,624,000 people and demonstrating an approximate increase of 2 million since 2006. It has been estimated that this figure will rise to 40% by 2060 [3]. The aging population of Asia, including Japan and Korea, is progressing rapidly. Due to the decrease in the typical “productive” working population (i.e., those aged 15–64 years), this could lead to economic burdens, an increase in elderly dependency costs, and increases in the demand for long-term care and welfare services due to chronic diseases such as stroke, dementia, 4.0/).
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