Division of Removable Prosthodontics, Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Iwate Medical University
Division of Removable Prosthodontics, Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Iwate Medical University
Non-invasive mapping of brain function has recently become widespread, and basic data on oral activity and brain activity in healthy young individuals are being collected. However, few reports have mapped brain function in healthy elderly individuals. Thus, the current study used 3T-fMRI to examine changes in brain activity during mastication in both young and elderly individuals in order to clarify whether aging causes changes in brain activity during mastication.The subjects were nine healthy young dentate individuals (mean age 30.7 years) and 10 healthy elderly dentate individuals (mean age 82.9 years). The subjects performed two experimental tasks, one involving jaw movement similar to mastication and the other involving masticatory movement. Image analysis was done using SPM5 image analysis software.The results showed no differences in activation between the young dentate group and the elderly dentate group during jaw movement similar to mastication. During masticatory movement, activation of the primary motor cortex, supplementary motor area, somatosensory cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia, and cerebellum was noted in the young dentate group. In the elderly dentate group, there was additional activation of the prefrontal cortex and expanded activation of the supplementary motor area. Thus, more extensive brain activation occurs in elderly individuals with the same movement. This finding suggests that function in elderly individuals may be maintained by the establishment of motor neural pathways that are not activated in young individuals to compensate for diminished function due to aging.
加齢変化が咀嚼時の脳機能活動に及ぼす影響
KJ00007578265
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