title: Increased masticatory activity and quality of life in elderly persons with dementia--a longitudinal matched cluster randomized single-blind multicenter intervention study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Worldwide, millions of people are suffering from dementia and this number is rising. An index of quality of life (QoL) can describe the impact a disease or treatment has on a person's wellbeing. QoL comprises many variables, including physical health and function, and mental health and function. QoL is related to masticatory ability and physical activity. Animal studies show that disruption of mastication due to loss of teeth or a soft diet leads to memory loss and learning problems. Since these are common complaints in dementia, it is hypothesized that improvement of masticatory function and normalization of diet consistency can increase QoL in elderly persons suffering from dementia. Therefore, the goal of the present study is to examine whether an increase in masticatory activity, achieved by increased food consistency and enhancement of masticatory function through improved oral health care has a positive effect on QoL, including cognition, mood, activities of daily living (ADL), and circadian rhythm in elderly persons with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The described study is a prospective longitudinal matched cluster randomized single-blind multicenter study. Participants are elderly persons living in the Netherlands, suffering from dementia and receiving psychogeriatric care. An intervention group will receive improved oral health care and a diet of increased consistency. A control group receives care as usual. Participants will be assessed four times; outcome variables besides QoL are cognition, mood, independence, rest-activity rhythm, blood pressure, and masticatory function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research protocol investigates the effect of an intervention executed by daily caregivers. The intervention will increase masticatory activity, which is achieved by three different actions, (providing oral health care, increasing food consistency, or a combination of both). There is a certain amount of variety in the nature of the interventions due to local differences in nursing homes. This might be a scientific weakness in the study design; however, a practical implementation of any findings will be subject to the same factors, making this study design clinically relevant.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NTR1561.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, Amsterdam 1081 BT, The Netherlands. r.a.f.weijenberg@vu.nl
authors.forename: Roxane Anthea Francesca
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Weijenberg
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lobbezoo
authors.forename: Dirk Lucas
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Knol
authors.forename: Jori
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tomassen
authors.forename: Erik Johan Anton
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Scherder
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014706:Verbal Learning; D014796:Visual Perception