Maximal voluntary tongue pressure is decreased in Japanese frail elderly persons

Abstract

Maximal voluntary tongue pressure is decreased in Japanese frail elderly personsBackground and objective: To quantitatively estimate tongue function, we developed a handy device for intraoral pressure measurement. The objective of this study was to assess maximum voluntary tongue pressure (MVTP) in Japanese frail elderly persons receiving nursing care services. Materials and methods: The study included 42 men and 87 women, aged 58-100 years. To record MVTP, the participants were asked to compress the balloon (diameter: 18 mm) of the disposable intraoral pressure probe onto their palates for 7 s using the maximum voluntary effort of the tongue. Pressures were recorded three times at 1 min intervals. Results: Maximum voluntary tongue pressure was successfully measured in 111 persons. Mean (standard deviation) MVTP was 18 (12) kPa, with a range of 0-63 kPa. The remaining 18 persons could not accurately follow our instructions and MVTP could not be measured. Conclusion: In comparison with the reported standard value using the same device, the frail elderly persons included in our study were found to exert less MVTP than healthy dentate individuals. These results suggest the need for proper quantitative evaluation of oral function, including tongue capacity, at nursing care facilities.

Decreased Tongue Pressure is Associated with Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Dysphagia in the Elderly

“…However, this underestimation, in which only extreme decreases in skeletal muscle mass and power were examined, may have shown the relationship between sarcopenia and dysphagia. Finally, only a few studies have reported that ADL and nutritional status are associated with dysphagia [13,14,40,41,44]. Furthermore, only a handful of reports have mentioned the relationship between secondary sarcopenia and dysphagia [15,44].…”

“…Although a decrease in maximum tongue pressure has been reported in elderly people [7][8][9][10][11][12], it is unclear what other factors are associated with a decrease in maximum tongue pressure. Tsuga et al [13] reported that activities of daily living (ADL), which was categorized into 4 classes according to the Japanese criteria for evaluating the degree of independence of disabled elderly subjects, was related to tongue pressure, and that elderly subjects with disability had significantly lower maximum tongue pressure. Although Tamura et al [14] did not examine tongue pressure, they reported the association between tongue thickness and mid-arm muscle area (AMA) as systemic nutritional status (correlation coefficient r = 0.424, p \ 0.001).…”

Assessment of swallowing in motor neuron disease and Asidan/SCA36 patients with new methods

“…1B (a)) [14][15][16]. Participants were asked to compress the balloon of a disposable intraoral pressure probe upward onto their palates for 7 s using the maximum voluntary effort of the tongue (Fig.…”

“…The videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFS) is a classic technique that evaluates all four stages of the swallowing process [13]. In contrast, new digital apparatus for assessing maximal tongue pressure (MTP) can selectively evaluate the oral stage [14][15][16]. Furthermore, we have developed new equipment that can selectively assess the pharyngeal stage using impedance pharyngography (IPG) [17].…”

Tongue thickness evaluation using ultrasonography can predict swallowing function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients

“…Several simple and non-invasive methods have been developed for evaluating swallowing function (Yoshikawa et al, 2011;Tsuga et al, 2012;Weikamp et al, 2012). Tongue sonography may be an objective and non-invasive swallowing evaluation technique that carries no risk of aspiration.…”