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Tongue strength and endurance in different aged individuals
1Department of Oral Medicine, Pathology, and Surgery, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, USA.
Summary
Tongue strength declines with age and is lower in females, similar to hand grip strength. However, tongue endurance remains unaffected by age or gender.
Area of Science:
- Oral physiology
- Gerontology
- Musculoskeletal research
Background:
- Age-related decline in voluntary muscle function is well-documented for hand grip strength.
- Limited data exist on age-related changes in tongue function and strength.
- This study investigates the relationship between aging and tongue strength and endurance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of aging on tongue strength and endurance.
- To compare age-related changes in tongue function with those of hand grip strength.
- To identify potential gender differences in tongue strength and endurance across age groups.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (a pressure transducer) to measure maximal tongue and hand strength and endurance.
- Recruited 99 healthy volunteers from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, stratified into four age groups (21-96 years).
- Employed multivariate analysis of variance and regression analysis to examine age and gender effects on strength and endurance.
Main Results:
- Males exhibited greater tongue and hand strength, but no significant gender differences were found for tongue or hand endurance.
- Both tongue and hand strength decreased with advancing age.
- Statistically significant reductions in tongue strength were observed in individuals over 79, and in hand strength for those over 59. Tongue and hand endurance showed no significant age-related changes.
Conclusions:
- Tongue function demonstrates both age- and gender-dependency, mirroring trends observed in hand function.
- Tongue strength diminishes in older adults and females.
- Tongue endurance is independent of both age and gender.