加齢による口腔機能および嚥下機能の低下とその対策—老嚥，オーラルフレイル，口腔機能低下症の理解

Managing the deterioration of oral cavity and swallowing function caused by natural aging: Toward an understanding of presbyphagia, oral frailty, and oral hypofunction

　高齢者では加齢に伴い嚥下器官の構造や生理的機能が変化し，嚥下機能が低下することが知られている．老嚥は嚥下障害の前段階であり，老人性疾患などを契機に嚥下障害を発症するリスクがある．オーラルフレイルとは，滑舌の低下や食べこぼし，わずかなむせ，噛めない食品が増えてきたなど口腔機能の軽微な低下を指す標語であり，口腔機能低下症は検査によって診断される疾患である．老嚥とオーラルフレイル(口腔機能低下症)は可逆的な状態であることから，嚥下機能の低下を早期に発見し，適切な指導とリハビリテーションによる介入を行うことが重要である．

　Physiological and anatomical changes in swallowing due to normal aging can affect swallowing function in older people. Presbyphagia is a pre-stage of dysphagia and may increase the risk of its development. Oral frailty, a condition in which oral cavity function decreases slightly, is accompanied by symptoms such as less precise articulation, slight choking or spillage while eating, and an increased number of unchewable foods. Oral hypofunction is a disease diagnosed by measuring seven items. It is important for older people to receive screening for the early detection of decreased swallowing function and appropriate rehabilitation, because presbyphagia and oral frailty may be reversible.