Oral care-induced activation and reproduction of the functional brain cognitive circuit in the elderly

本研究采用神经认知功能测验、简易精神状态检查量表（MMSE）和Kana-hiroi测验（KT），探讨口腔护理如何提高老年人的认知功能。使用MMSE和KT的分析显示，口腔护理导致在两个测试中的正确回答率，当与没有口腔护理相比。此外，由于口腔护理在KT表现期间增加了前额叶皮层中的BOLD信号，因此这种护理可能是通过激活前额叶皮层来增强老年人认知功能的有用工具。

We used neurocognitve tests, mini-mental status examination(MMSE) and Kana-hiroi test(KT), to investigate how oral care increases cognitive function in the elderly. Analysis using MMSE and KT revealed that oral care causes the correct answer rate in both tests, when compared with that in the absence of oral care. Furthermore, since oral care increases BOLD signals in the prefrontal cortex during KT performance, this care may be useful tool for enhancing cognitive function in the elderly via activation of the prefrontal cortex.