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Association between echo intensity of the tongue and its thickness and function in elderly subjects
Author(s) -
Chantaramanee Ariya,
Tohara Haruka,
Nakagawa Kazuharu,
Hara Koji,
Nakane Ayako,
Yamaguchi Kohei,
Yoshimi Kanako,
Junichi Furuya,
Minakuchi Shunsuke
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of oral rehabilitation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-2842
pISSN - 0305-182X
DOI - 10.1111/joor.12788
Subject(s) - tongue , swallowing , medicine , nuclear medicine , dentistry , pathology
Summary Background 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). Objective To clarify the relationship between EI and thickness and function of the tongue. Methods 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. Results 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. Conclusion 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.