J Korean Acad Oral Health.  2018 Dec;42(4):159-166. 10.11149/jkaoh.2018.42.4.159.

Association between masticatory ability, oral health-related quality of life and cognitive function in the elderly population using structural equation modeling

• Shin HE
• Chang IJ
• Cho MJ
• Song KB
• Choi YH

• KMID: 2430537
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11149/jkaoh.2018.42.4.159

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between masticatory ability, oral health-related quality of life, and cognitive function in an elderly population using structural equation modeling.
METHODS
A total of 308 subjects, aged 65 years and over, were recruited from the senior citizen center in Daegu, South Korea and provided consent for inclusion in the study. The Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) was used to assess the level of cognitive function. Masticatory ability was evaluated through chewing tests, patient-perceived masticatory function and, measurement of relative occlusal forces on molar teeth using the T-Scan III® system. All data were analyzed using χ² tests, t-tests, and one-way ANOVA in SPSS version 23.0 for windows. Structural equation modeling was performed using SPSS AMOS version 22.0.
RESULTS
There was a significant association between cognitive function and molar teeth occlusal force. Ability of food chewing score and patient-perceived masticatory function could affect oral health-related quality of life (P < 0.05). Higher occlusal forces on molar teeth, compared to anterior teeth, positively correlated with higher cognitive function.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that an individual's oral health condition could affect molar teeth occlusal forces and may be related to a risk of developing dementia. Therefore, there is a need for implementing nation-wide policies to improve oral health, such as masticatory function, in the elderly population.

Keyword

Cognitive function; Elderly population; Masticatory ability; Oral health-related quality of life; Structural equation modeling

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Bite Force
Cognition*
Daegu
Dementia
Humans
Korea
Mastication
Molar
Oral Health
Quality of Life*
Tooth

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Study model.

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  Fig. 2 Study model by structural equation model.

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