- 期刊
中高齡者口腔機能、體能表現與認知功能之相關性探討
Relationship between Oral Function, Physical Performance and Cognitive Function among Middle-Aged Adults and Elder
摘要
目的：老化會引起口腔機能衰退，在國外研究中有分別探討口腔機能與體能、認知功能等關係，其中日本樂天變色口香糖已被證實可用來評估與量化咀嚼力，但台灣鮮少有以變色口香糖作為口腔機能評估的相關研究。本研究以變色口香糖、唾液分泌量、口腔輪替運動量化口腔機能，探討嘉義縣沿海地區中高齡者口腔機能狀況，並確立口腔機能與體能狀況、認知功能的關係。方法：本研究為觀察型、橫斷面研究，以方便取樣的方式，針對55歲至75歲嘉義縣沿海地區的居民，進行問卷調查、咀嚼力、唾液分泌量和口腔輪替運動速率檢測，量測小腿最粗處的小腿圍長度、握力，實行起身行走測試。結果：本研究招募224人，其中女性158人，佔70.5%。在多變項迴歸分析中，校正年齡、性別、教育程度、運動習慣、共病症數量後，唾液分泌量多與以小腿圍判斷是否為肌少症有顯著正相關；口香糖變色程度與握力有顯著正相關；唾液分泌量、口香糖變色程度、口腔輪替運動速率（/pa/、/ta/、/ka/、/la/），與起身行走測試秒數無顯著相關；口香糖變色程度與認知功能有顯著正相關。結論：變色口香糖為客觀、簡單和可靠的方法，探討咀嚼力，根據其顏色改變程度，評估口腔機能，也可以作為識別體能表現、認知功能下降風險的參考。
並列摘要
Objective: Elders are more likely to have oral dysfunction. Color-changeable chewing gum has been confirmed to be a valid and reliable method for the evaluating masticatory function. However, there are few studies using color-changeable chewing gum as oral function assessment in Taiwan. This study aimed to explore the oral function of middle-age adults and elders in the coastal areas of Chiayi County, and elucidate the association between oral function, physical performance and cognitive function. Methods: The study was an observational and cross-sectional study with participants aged 55 to 75 in the coastal areas of Chiayi County. Participants needed to complete questionnaires, physical performance tests, cognitive test, and oral functional tests which included chewing ability, saliva secretion and diadochokinetic rate. Results: This study enrolled 224 participants, of which 158 were women, accounting for 70.5%. In the multivariate regression analysis, after adjusting for age, sex, education level, exercise, and number of comorbidities, the amount of saliva secretion was positive associated with calf circumference. Color scale change of chewing gum was significantly positive correlated with grip strength. Saliva secretion, color scale of chewing gum, diadochokinetic rate were not significantly correlated with the seconds of Timed Up and Go test. Color scale of chewing gum was significantly positive associated with cognitive status. Conclusion: Color-changeable chewing gum is an objective, simple and reliable method to explore chewing ability. Through its degree of color change, color-changeable chewing gum can also be used as a reference to detect the risk of poor physical performance and cognitive impairment.