Influence of Chewing Ability on Elderly Adults’ Cognitive Functioning: The Mediating Effects of the Ability to Perform Daily Life Activities and Nutritional Status

Yun-Sook Jung, Taejun Park, Eun-Kyong Kim, Seong-Hwa Jeong, Young-Eun Lee, Min-Jeong Cho, Keun-Bae Song and Youn-Hee Choi
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Yun-Sook Jung: Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Science & Technology, Kyungpook National University, 2559, Gyeongsang-daero, Sangju-si 37224, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea
Taejun Park: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Kyungpook National University School of Dentistry, Daegu 41940, Korea
Eun-Kyong Kim: Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Science & Technology, Kyungpook National University, 2559, Gyeongsang-daero, Sangju-si 37224, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea
Seong-Hwa Jeong: Faculty of Health Science, Daegu Haany University, 1, Hanuidae-ro, Gyeongsan-si 38610, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea
Young-Eun Lee: Department of Dental Hygiene, Daegu Health College, 15, Yeongsong-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41453, Korea
Min-Jeong Cho: Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Science & Technology, Kyungpook National University, 2559, Gyeongsang-daero, Sangju-si 37224, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea
Keun-Bae Song: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Kyungpook National University School of Dentistry, Daegu 41940, Korea
Youn-Hee Choi: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Kyungpook National University School of Dentistry, Daegu 41940, Korea

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-11

Abstract: Chewing ability is also related to activities of daily living (ADLs) and nutritional status; however, these associations have not been firmly established. We examined chewing ability as a predictor variable and explored its relationship with cognitive functioning as mediated by ADLs and nutritional status data were collected by face-to-face interviews. Patients were receiving home healthcare service in Mun-gyeong city, Gyung-buk, Korea. Participants comprised 295 patients aged 81.35 ± 6.70 years. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed using AMOS 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The model fit was based on absolute fit index and incremental fit index. Data were collected to assess cognitive functioning (using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental Status Examination for dementia screening (MMSE-DS)), ADL, a mini-nutritional assessment (MNA) questionnaire, and a chewing ability test. Participants with better chewing ability had significantly better cognitive functioning, ADLs, and nutritional status ( p < 0.001). Chewing ability directly affected cognitive functioning and indirectly affected how ADLs and MNA affected MMSE-DS. Chewing ability is an important factor influencing the cognitive functioning of elderly adults in Korea, both directly and indirectly through mediating variables such as nutritional status and ADLs. Efforts to help older adults maintain their chewing ability are necessary for preventing cognitive impairment.

Keywords: chewing ability; cognitive functioning; structural equation modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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