Affiliation:
1. Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
2. Faculty of Frontier Engineering, Institute of Science & Engineering Kanazawa University Kanazawa Japan
3. Center of Clinical Oral Examination Hiroshima University Hospital Hiroshima Japan
4. Department of Dietary Management Hiroshima University Hospital Hiroshima Japan
5. Department of Dentistry and Oral‐Maxillofacial Surgery Fujita Health University Toyoake Japan
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundEvaluation of low tongue pressure is used to diagnose oral hypofunction. The pathophysiology of oral hypofunction is hypothesized to be associated with oral dysfunction related to ageing. Depression in older adults is a major problem and is related to handgrip strength, which is related to tongue pressure. We hypothesized that low tongue pressure could indicate depression mood in community‐dwelling older adults.ObjectivesThis study aimed to measure maximum tongue pressure and compare it to the responses to the Kihon Checklist (KCL), which is used to check mental and physical deterioration of community‐dwelling older adults.MethodsA total of 49 community‐dwelling independent older adults with stable dental condition (23 men, 26 women; median age, 79 years) answered the KCL, which contained questions on frailty status, cognitive function, nutritional and sarcopenia status. Oral function was measured to assess oral hypofunction. The relationship between tongue pressure differences and frailty status, cognitive function, nutritional and sarcopenia status was analysed using logistic regression analyses after adjusting for age and sex.ResultsNine participants (6 men and 3 women; median age, 81 years) had a tongue pressure <23.0 kPa, which was the lowest limit of the standard value of maximum tongue pressure in patients aged ≥70 years. Logistic regression analyses showed that only Question 21, which is related to a lack of fulfilment in daily life, was significantly associated with low tongue pressure (p = .027).ConclusionLow tongue pressure may be associated with sociopsychological factors in older adults.