title: Development of a candy-sucking test for evaluating oral function in elderly patients with dementia: A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To maintain oral intake in elderly patients with dementia, it is important to evaluate their oral function. However, these patients often have difficulties following instructions during oral function tests, especially with the progression of dementia. The task of sucking a lollipop candy is simple for elderly patients with mild or severe dementia. The present study aimed to develop a new oral function test - the "candy sucking test" (CST) - for elderly patients with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 23 female elderly patients with dementia (mean age 89.0 ± 6.7 years). First, we determined the number of participants who were able to carry out this new oral function test, compared with other existing tests. Then, swallowing function was evaluated using videofluoroscopy for those who could carry out the CST.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More participants were able to perform carry out CST than other function tests (P < 0.05). A significant correlation was observed between the CST value, evaluated as the difference in candy weight, and oral transit time (ρ = -0.62, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CST could be useful as a new method for evaluating the oral function of elderly patients with dementia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1977-1981.
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Mineka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hiraoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamori
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuyoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuga
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002182:Candy; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology
keywords: candy sucking; dementia; oral function