Improved Prefrontal Activity and Chewing Performance As Function of Wearing Denture in Partially Edentulous Elderly Individuals: Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2016 Jul 1

PMID 27362255

Citations 17

Authors

Kazunobu Kamiya

Noriyuki Narita

Sunao Iwaki

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of wearing a denture on prefrontal activity during chewing performance. We specifically examined that activity in 12 elderly edentulous subjects [63.1±6.1 years old (mean ± SD)] and 12 young healthy controls (22.1±2.3 years old) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in order to evaluate the quality of prefrontal functionality during chewing performance under the conditions of wearing a denture and tooth loss, and then compared the findings with those of young healthy controls. fNIRS and electromyography were used simultaneously to detect prefrontal and masticatory muscle activities during chewing, while occlusal force and masticatory score were also examined by use of a food intake questionnaire. A significant increase in prefrontal activity was observed during chewing while wearing a denture, which was accompanied by increased masticatory muscle activity, occlusal force, and masticatory score, as compared with the tooth loss condition. Prefrontal activation during chewing while wearing a denture in the elderly subjects was not much different from that in the young controls. In contrast, tooth loss in the elderly group resulted in marked prefrontal deactivation, accompanied by decreased masticatory muscle activity, occlusal force, and masticatory score, as compared with the young controls. We concluded that intrinsic prefrontal activation during chewing with a denture may prevent prefrontal depression induced by tooth loss in elderly edentulous patients.

Citing Articles

The Relationship between Removable Dental Prostheses and Brain Activity in Elderly Individuals: Systematic Review.

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Denture use and a slower rate of cognitive decline among older adults with partial tooth loss in China: A 10-year prospective cohort study.

Qi X, Zhu Z, Pei Y, Wu B Aging Med (Milton). 2025; 7(6):781-789.

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Association of Tooth Loss with Alzheimer's Disease Tau Pathologies Assessed by Positron Emission Tomography.

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

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Assessment and Improvement of Masticatory Performance in Frail Older People: A Narrative Review.

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