title: Analysis of moment structures for assessing relationships among perceived chewing ability, dentition status, muscle strength, and balance in community-dwelling older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess relationships among perceived chewing ability, dentition status, muscle strength and balance in community-dwelling older adults using analysis of moment structures (Amos).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Physical performance parameters such as muscle strength and balance can predict the future onset of disabilities in activities of daily living among older adults. In this context, elucidation of the relationships among oral conditions and physical performance parameters is necessary.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on occlusal contact patterns of natural teeth (OPNT), self-assessed masticatory ability (mastication), body mass index (BMI), handgrip strength (HG) and one-leg standing time with eyes open (OLST) were collected from 501 independently living adults aged 65-74 years. The relationships among these parameters were analysed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients and Amos.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects of both genders showed significant correlations among OPNT, mastication, HG and OLST, evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. For each Amos model, the goodness-of-fit statistic indicated a good level of fit. In both men and women, OPNT was significantly related to mastication, and mastication was related to HG but not to OLST. OPNT was related to neither HG nor OLST in women and was related to OLST but not HG in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings observed in this study present a possible importance of dental status and perceived chewing ability for the onset of disability by influencing physical performance in community-dwelling older adults.
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion, National Institute of Public Health, Wako, Japan.
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moriya
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Notani
authors.forename: Ayumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miura
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D003817:Dentition; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Amos; BMI; Muscle strength; balance; chewing; dental status