Reduced Tongue Pressure as a Risk Factor for Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Abstract

Background: Impaired oral function in older adults is linked to sarcopenia owing to its effects on nutrient intake and physical function maintenance. However, comprehensive analyses of the complex interactions between these two conditions remain limited.

Objective: We examined the relationship between oral function and sarcopenia in independent community-dwelling older adults in South Korea by comprehensively analysing oral function-related factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 65 years residing in Incheon, South Korea between December 2023 and August 2024. Sarcopenia was determined based on skeletal muscle mass, handgrip strength and physical performance. Participants were divided into sarcopenia and normal groups. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment. Oral function-related factors included the number of remaining teeth, oral hygiene, oral moisture, tongue pressure, masticatory performance, tongue-lip motor function and swallowing function. The association between sarcopenia and oral function-related factors was evaluated using multiple logistic regression after adjusting for potential confounders.

Results: Of the 316 participants, 64 (20.3%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. Reduced tongue pressure (p = 0.007) and diminished masticatory performance (p = 0.033) were significantly associated with sarcopenia. Following adjustment, only reduced tongue pressure remained significantly associated with sarcopenia, with a 2.49-fold increase in risk (p = 0.029). Furthermore, poor nutritional status emerged as a significant risk factor, increasing the sarcopenia risk by 5.26 times (p = 0.009).

Conclusion: Maintaining tongue pressure is essential for preventing sarcopenia, as this function plays a critical role in preserving oral health and physical function. Integrating oral health management into preventive strategies may enhance overall well-being in ageing populations.