Fig 1.
Measurement of tongue thickness.
A) The subjects were examined in a 30° reclined position while seated. Tongue thickness was determined as the distance between the upper and lower surfaces of the lingual muscles in the center of the plane perpendicular to the Frankfurt horizontal plane in the frontal section. B) The vertical distance was measured from the surface of the mylohyoid muscle to the tongue dorsum.
Fig 2.
Measurement of tongue pressure.
A) The balloon-type equipment consists of a disposable oral probe, an infusion tube as a connector, and a recording device. B) The subjects were asked to place the balloon in their mouths, holding the plastic pipe at the midpoint of their central incisors with closed lips. The subjects were asked to raise their tongue and compress the small balloon with their palate at maximum voluntary effort for 7 seconds.
Table 1.
Japanese elder participants’ health-related factors in tongue thickness study.
Fig 3.
The association of tongue thickness with tongue pressure.
In the elderly, tongue thickness is shown to be associated with tongue pressure A) in males (p < 0.001) and B) in females (p < 0.001); ●, male; ○, female.
Table 2.
Factors influencing tongue thickness in Japanese elders.
Fig 4.
Tongue thickness by age and sex.
A) Tongue thickness by five-year age increments in males. Tongue thickness significantly decreased with increased age (p < 0.001). B) Tongue thickness by five-year age increments in females. Tongue thickness was significantly decreased with increased age (p < 0.001). *p < 0.05 by Tukey’s honestly significant difference test.
Fig 5.
Tongue pressure by age and sex.
A) Tongue pressure by five-year age increments in males. Tongue pressure significantly decreased with increased age (p < 0.001). B) Tongue pressure by five-year age increments in females. Tongue pressure significantly decreased with increased age (p < 0.001). *p < 0.05 by Tukey’s honestly significant difference test.
Table 3.
Factors associated with the scores for the food intake LEVEL scale.