2025 Volume 17 Issue Special_issue Pages S39-S43
Swallowing function declines with aging, leading to dysphagia. Dysphagia is a risk factor for malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, and even death. Therefore, to maintain the health of older adults, it is important to predict and prevent the decline in swallowing function as early as possible. Previous studies have shown that behavioral economic characteristics, such as time preference and risk preference, influence individual decision-making. It has been reported that individuals with a tendency to procrastinate are less likely to engage in health-related behaviors. Such individuals may also experience a decline in swallowing function; however, the association between procrastination tendency and swallowing function remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to clarify the association between procrastination tendency and swallowing function among community-dwelling older adults. The results of the cross-sectional survey indicated that individuals with a stronger tendency to procrastinate had lower jaw opening force, which is one of the swallowing-related muscle strengths. These findings suggest that procrastination tendency may serve as an indicator of swallowing function, highlighting the potential usefulness of assessing behavioral economic traits in clinical settings.
