Abstract
The purpose of this study is to clarify how an oral function improvement program could contribute to the cognitive function of the elderly persons in a group home. The Subjects comprised 36 elderly persons (mean age 86.1±5.2 years) living in a group home in Kagoshima Prefecture (GH-A) or in Kanagawa Prefecture（GH-B）. The cognitive function was evaluated by used with mini-mental statement examination (MMSE), and subjects MMSE score of ten or more were selected. The oral functions were assessed in 4 categories (oral myofunctional activity, mastication, swallowing and oral cleanliness). As for attendance in the oral function improvement program (PR), most of the subjects in GH-A had come in the PR, but in GH-B, 40% of subjects had it (p＜0.01). The items of PR that they had used were similar with both homes. After 6 months, the oral function increased significantly with RSST and with oral diadochokinesis “pa” sound in GH-A. In addition, the masticatory ability with XYTOL® increased significantly in GH-A. In the cognitive function, the MMSE score did not decrease with GH-A after one year, but it decreased significantly with GH-B. From these results, it was suggested that the oral function improvement program can restrain the decline of MMSE score and contribute to the cognitive function.
