Effect of Functional Training for Tongue and Lips on Cognitive Function, Lingual Muscle and Orbicularis Oris Muscle in Older Adults

Abstract

　Purpose：“Pa-ta-ka-ra”exercises for functional training of the tongue and lips are carried out to prevent oral frailty in nursing homes. However, the effects of the training on cognitive function and oral function are not clear. Therefore, we investigated the effects related to cognitive function, lingual muscle and orbicularis oris muscle.

　Methods：Sixty older adults （66–98 years old） were divided into two groups：the training group （T group） and the no-training group （N group）. The subjects of the T group performed two trainings before meals every day, moving the tongue in and out, and performing the “Pa-ta-ka-ra”exercise, which is training involving repeating each sound of “pa”, “ta” and “ka”. All subjects were subjected to measurement of cognitive function （MMSE）, wettability of the tongue, tongue and lip function （ODK）, and tongue pressure and lip pressure every 3 months until 21 months. We compared the value of each time in each group and the difference between the first value and each time in both groups.

　Results：In the T group, there was a significant difference between the wettability of the oral cavity before training and the value at 21 months after training. The tongue pressure and the lip pressure after 12 months were significantly higher than the values before training. Comparing both groups, there were significant differences in MMSE after 18 months and ODK at 9 months and 21 months. The degree of change of the tongue pressure after 9 months and the lip pressure at 21 months in the T group were significantly higher than the values in the N group.

　Conclusion：The continuation of the functional training for the tongue and lips raised the tongue pressure and lip pressure, suggesting that the training was effective for maintaining cognitive function and pronunciation function.