完全無歯顎患者の認知機能に対する義歯の影響：パイロットスタディ

Impact of Denture Prostheses on Cognitive Functioning in Completely Edentulous Patients: A Pilot Study.

抄録

目的:

新しい認知機能評価ツールを用いて、完全無歯顎患者の認知機能に及ぼす義歯の影響を評価することを目的とする。

AIM: The aim is to evaluate the impact of denture prostheses on cognitive functioning in completely edentulous patients using a novel cognitive assessment tool.

方法:

60歳以上の完全無歯顎患者30名を対象とした。新規の認知機能評価ツールであるDental Cognitive Functioning Assessment Tool（DCFAT）を用いて、患者の認知機能の前後評価を行った。これらの評価は、治療前の段階と、補綴物の機能開始2週間後および3ヶ月後に行われた。

METHODS: Thirty (n=30) completely edentulous patients of age groups above 60 years were taken in the present study group. Pre- and post-cognitive assessments were done on the patients using a novel cognitive assessment tool, Dental Cognitive Functioning Assessment Tool (DCFAT). These assessments were done in the pre-treatment stage and after two weeks and three months of prostheses function.

結果:

30名の平均DCFATスコアは、義歯製作前に10.13、義歯装着2週間後と3ヶ月後にそれぞれ11.5と14であった。義歯製作前と義歯装着2週間後のDCFATscoreの平均差は1.37であった。DCFATスコアの平均差は3.87で、義足製作前と義足機能開始3ヵ月後の間に見られ、義足機能開始2週間後と3ヵ月後ではDCFATスコアの平均差は2.5であった。二変量標本間の統計的差異を調べるために一元配置分散分析（ANOVA）を使用し、その後にTukey検定を行った。結果はp<0.00001で統計的に有意であった。

RESULTS: The mean DCFAT score of 30 patients shows 10.13 recorded prior to denture fabrication and 11.5 and 14 after two weeks and three months of prosthesis function, respectively. A mean difference in the DCFAT score of 1.37 was seen between the pre-denture fabrication stage and two weeks of prosthesis function. The mean difference in DCFAT score of 3.87 was seen between the pre-denture fabrication stage and three months of prosthesis function and the mean difference score of DCFAT score 2.5 was observed after two weeks and three months of prosthesis function. One-way ANOVA was used to investigate the statistical difference between bivariate samples followed by the post hoc Tukey test. The results were statistically significant p < 0.00001.

結論:

得られた推論から、欠損した歯を義歯で補うことは、高齢者の認知機能を向上させ、最終的には認知症の発生を抑制できることが示唆された。

CONCLUSION:  The inference obtained suggest that the replacement of missing teeth by denture prostheses enhances the cognitive functioning in the elderly population which can eventually reduce the occurrence of dementia.