Department of Gerodontology, Division of Gerontology and Gerodontology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Oral Health Sciences for Community Welfare, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
J Oral Rehabil. 2019 Jul;46(7):634-639. doi: 10.1111/joor.12788. Epub 2019 Apr 2.
The tongue plays an important role during the oropharyngeal phase of swallowing. Each part of the tongue has a different function during swallowing. Ageing causes changes in muscle quantity and quality. Qualitative changes, such as an increase in intramuscular adipose tissue, can be determined by the echo intensity (EI) of the tongue on ultrasonography (US).
To clarify the relationship between EI and thickness and function of the tongue.
Ninety-four healthy elderly individuals (30 male, 64 female) aged >65 years (mean 71.10 ± 4.13 years) were enrolled. Tongue thickness (TT) and EI were determined by US. Tongue function was evaluated by measurement of tongue pressure and oral diadochokinesis (OD). Multiple regression analysis was used to identify the factor with the strongest influence on EI of the tongue.
The mean thickness of the middle of the tongue was 40.42 ± 4.24 mm and that of the base was 23.35 ± 3.32 mm; the respective EI values were 46.54 ± 9.33 and 49.33 ± 9.83. The average OD rates for /ta/ and /ka/ were 5.73 ± 1.09 and 5.40 ± 1.00 times/s, respectively. Multiple regression analysis for EI showed that /ta/ (β = -2.518, P = 0.042) and thickness of the middle of the tongue (β = -1.278, P < 0.001) were significant independent variables. Similarly, the EI at the base of the tongue showed that /ka/ (β = -4.038, P = 0.021) and base of TT (β = -0.913, P = 0.004) were significant independent variables.
EI may be an indicator of TT and OD in both the middle and base of the tongue. Ultrasound is beneficial for evaluating TT and function.
舌在口咽期吞咽中起着重要作用。舌的每个部位在吞咽过程中都有不同的功能。随着年龄的增长，肌肉数量和质量会发生变化。在超声检查（US）中，通过舌的回声强度（EI）可以确定定性变化，如肌肉内脂肪组织的增加。
阐明 EI 与舌的厚度和功能之间的关系。
共纳入 94 名年龄 >65 岁（平均 71.10±4.13 岁）的健康老年人（30 名男性，64 名女性）。通过 US 确定舌厚度（TT）和 EI。通过测量舌压和口腔交替发音（OD）评估舌功能。采用多元回归分析确定对舌 EI 影响最强的因素。
舌中部平均厚度为 40.42±4.24mm，根部平均厚度为 23.35±3.32mm；相应的 EI 值分别为 46.54±9.33 和 49.33±9.83。/ta/和/ka/的平均 OD 率分别为 5.73±1.09 和 5.40±1.00 次/s。EI 的多元回归分析显示，/ta/（β=-2.518，P=0.042）和舌中部厚度（β=-1.278，P<0.001）是显著的独立变量。同样，舌根 EI 显示/ka/（β=-4.038，P=0.021）和舌根 TT（β=-0.913，P=0.004）是显著的独立变量。
EI 可能是舌中部和根部 TT 和 OD 的指标。超声有助于评估 TT 和功能。
