Occlusal force predicted cognitive decline among 70- and 80-year-old Japanese: A 3-year prospective cohort study.

Purpose: Dementia is a growing health problem for countries with aging populations, but few effective dementia treatments are available. However, there is increasing interest in oral health as a modifiable risk factor in interventions to prevent cognitive decline. This study aimed to investigate the impact of oral health on the decline of cognitive function over 3 years among Japanese people aged 70 and 80 years.

Relationship between oral stereognostic ability and dietary intake in older Japanese adults with complete dentures.

Purpose: Oral stereognostic ability (OSA) is a useful indicator of oral perception to recognize food characteristics during mastication. Previous studies have shown associations between dietary intake and oral health status, such as taste perception. However, the effect of oral sensory ability on dietary intake is unclear.

Association of handgrip strength with various oral functions in 82- to 84-year-old community-dwelling Japanese.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the associations between muscle strength and several oral functions in a large cohort of community-dwelling, 82- to 84-year-old community-dwelling Japanese people.

Background Data Discussing The Present Status Of The Field: Several studies have examined the relationships between physical performance and oral functions. However, no studies have investigated the associations of muscle strength with various objectively evaluated oral functional parameters in a large cohort of very old adults.

Impact of cognitive function on oral perception in independently living older people.

Objectives: Oral tactile perception is important for better mastication, appetite, and enjoyment of food. However, previous investigations have not utilized comprehensible variables thought to have negative effect on oral perception, including aging, denture wearing, and cognitive function. The aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of cognitive function on oral perception in independently living older individuals.

Occlusal force is correlated with cognitive function directly as well as indirectly via food intake in community-dwelling older Japanese: From the SONIC study.

Background: Growing evidence suggests that oral health may be an important factor associated with cognitive function in aged populations. However, many previous studies on this topic used insensitive oral indicators or did not include certain essential covariates. Thus, we examined the association between occlusal force and cognitive function in a large sample of older adults, controlling for dietary intake, vascular risk factors, inflammatory biomarkers, depression, and genetic factors.

Relationship between atherosclerosis and occlusal support of natural teeth with mediating effect of atheroprotective nutrients: From the SONIC study.

Whereas most of studies investigating relationship between oral health and atherosclerosis have focused on periodontitis, very few of them were examined about occlusal status of natural teeth which possibly influence dietary habit. The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between the occlusal support of posterior teeth and the prevalence of atherosclerosis in community-dwelling septuagenarians. Also, the second aim was to test the hypothesis that the intake of key nutrients for atherosclerosis prevention would have a mediating effect on the relationship between the occlusal status and atherosclerosis.

Association between toothbrushing and risk factors for cardiovascular disease: a large-scale, cross-sectional Japanese study.

Objectives: To clarify the association between toothbrushing and risk factors for cardiovascular disease--namely, hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus (DM), dyslipidaemia (DL), hyperuricaemia (HUA) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Design: A large-scale, single-centre, cross-sectional study.

Setting: St Luke's International Hospital, Center for Preventive Medicine, Tokyo, Japan, between January 2004 and June 2010.

Impact on Dietary Intake of Removable Partial Dentures Replacing a Small Number of Teeth.

The aim of this study was to clarify the impact of wearing removable partial dentures (RPDs) replacing a small number of teeth on dietary intake. Participants had at least 20 teeth and were classified as Eichner B1 or B2. The participants underwent dental and oral examinations, and their dietary intake was assessed.

Lower Protein Intake Mediates Association Between Lower Occlusal Force and Slower Walking Speed: From the Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, Nonagenarians Investigation with Centenarians Study.

Objectives: To investigate the association between lower extremity motor function and occlusion in older adults and to examine the possibility of dietary intake of protein mediating the association.

Design: Cross-sectional, population-based study.

Setting: Urban and rural area in Japan.

Age and sex differences in the taste sensitivity of young adult, young-old and old-old Japanese.

Aim: The present study examined sex and age differences in taste sensitivity among young adult, young-old and old-old Japanese.

Methods: Participants were divided into three groups comprising 477 men and 519 women in the young-old group (aged 69-71 years), 449 men and 500 women in the old-old group (aged 79-81 years), and 35 men and 35 women in the young adult group (aged 24-32 years). Recognition thresholds for the four basic tastes were measured using the 1-mL whole mouth gustatory test, in which taste solutions of the four basic tastes were tested in five concentrations.

Association of personality traits with oral health-related quality of life independently of objective oral health status: a study of community-dwelling elderly Japanese.

Objectives: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is being increasingly used in epidemiologic studies of dentistry. However, patient-reported OHRQoL does not always coincide with clinical measures. Previous studies have shown a relationship between OHRQoL and personality, but did not concomitantly investigate oral function.

Significance of occlusal force for dietary fibre and vitamin intakes in independently living 70-year-old Japanese: from SONIC Study.

Objectives: The number of teeth has frequently been used as an indicator of oral health in investigations of food intake; however, this measure does not represent the efficacy of the masticatory performance. Masticatory performance may be more important for food selection and avoidance than number of remaining teeth. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of occlusal force with habitual dietary intakes in independently living older Japanese.

Effect of dental status and masticatory ability on decreased frequency of fruit and vegetable intake in elderly Japanese subjects.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of masticatory ability and dental status with intake of fruits and vegetables after adjusting for other factors in independently living elderly Japanese subjects.

Materials And Methods: The study population consisted of 1,535 community-dwelling, independent elderly subjects over the age of 60 years. Self-assessed general health, financial status, dental status, self-assessed masticatory ability by food acceptance, and frequency of food intake were evaluated from responses to a questionnaire.