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＜L-13＞：Life Sciences, Information and Communications Technology

“Mimamoru-kun II”: Realizing System and Human Collaboration Between Dental Care, Medical Care, and Welfare/Care Services
― An AI Engine Aimed at Behavioral Change Through Lifestyle Improvement Recommendations ―

Research Overview

● Social Challenge: Digital Divide and Staff Shortages in Depopulating, Aging Rural and Mountainous Regions It is widely recognized that maintaining healthy oral function contributes to overall health. Therefore, it is essential to enhance the awareness of self-help “Ji-jo” and mutual aid “Go-jo” among the elderly living in mountainous and rural areas experiencing depopulation and aging. Furthermore, it is crucial to establish a system where support staff such as public health nurses and care managers provide monitoring, enable early detection of oral frailty among the elderly, and facilitate swift connection to social solidarity care “Kyo-jo” based on the sharing and coordination of relevant PHR information(Fig. 1). ● Technical Challenge: Reducing the Burden on Support Personnel We developed ICT systems to reduce the excessive workload of support staff caused by staffing shortages and to enable the effective and efficient sharing of information across professions (Fig. 2). 1.    Information-sharing web application for community care conference (“Mimamoru-kun”) 2.    Oral and cognitive function assessment web game application 3.    Oral care assessment database system for caregivers Going forward, we aim to integrate these systems and develop an application equipped with an AI oral recommendation engine that provides personalized information and suggestions to improve oral environments and awareness among individuals requiring support. By increasing the “execution rate” of information registration and behavioral change, we expect to promote the establishment of healthy lifestyle habits for disease prevention and pre-symptomatic care (Fig 3).   Figure 1. Information-sharing system required for building a community-based integrated care system ● Diagram explanation 見守る職員による個別課題の早期発見と“共助”への接続： Early detection of individual issues by monitoring staff and linkage to social solidarity care  共助：Social Solidarity Care Formal services/ Social insurance (Medical care / Long-term care) 互助：Mutual Aid Informal services/ Care / Oral care/ Monitoring 自助：Self-help Maintenance and improvement of one’s own oral health and overall health/ Improvement of health literacy “通いの場”：Community Gathering Places 体操／口腔体操／食事会を通した相互の見守りと健口／健康維持の取組 Mutual monitoring and initiatives for maintaining oral health and overall health through exercise, oral exercises, and shared meals 地域住民：Community Residents 健口／健康リテラシーの向上と未病／発病／重症化予防の行動 Improvement of oral health and health literacy, and actions for prevention of pre-disease conditions, disease onset, and disease progression 福祉：Welfare　Public health nurses/ Care managers 介護：Long-term Care　Care workers 歯科：Dentistry　Dentists/ Dental hygienists 医科：Medical Care　Physicians/ Nurses     Figure 2. PHR-related database systems developed to date ● Diagram explanation 高齢者のPHRを蓄積し包括的に管理： Comprehensive accumulation and management of PHRs for older adults 要支援者等情報共有システム： Information-sharing system for individuals requiring support 個別課題等を多職種で共有： Sharing individual issues among multidisciplinary professionals 居住形態（独居）、認知症度、HDSR、要介護度、基本チェックリスト内容等： Living arrangement (living alone), dementia severity, HDS-R, level of long-term care need, basic checklist items, etc. 地域ケア会議機能：Community care conference function “共助”への連携：Linkage to social solidarity care ＜Center＞---------- 自助：Self-help,　互助：Mutual aid,　共助：Social solidarity care  健口モニタリングゲーム： Oral and cognitive function assessment web game application ※世界で唯一※：※The only system of its kind in the world※ ゲーム感覚でできるWebアプリ：Web application with a game-like interface ゲーム結果＝医学的／歯科医学的データ： Game results = medical / dental data 神経心理学的検査（かなひろいテスト）： Neuropsychological test (Kana Pick-up Test) 舌口唇運動機能検査（滑舌度）： Tongue and lip motor function test (articulation) 繰返し利用による脳トレ／口トレ効果： Brain training / oral exercise effects through repeated use リーダーが虚弱高齢者をサポート：Leaders support frail older adults “互助”意識向上：Enhanced awareness of mutual aid ＜Lower right＞---------- 口腔機能モニタリングシステム：Oral function monitoring system 口腔機能低下症の実測調査：Objective assessment of oral hypofunction 発生源入力：Source data input 測定値を電子化：Digitization of measurement data フィードバックと個別支援：Feedback and individualized support “自助”意識向上：Enhanced awareness of self-help     Figure 3. Development of an AI-powered application for information sharing to improve oral and health literacy ● Diagram explanation 元気な頃から継続的に登録： Continuously recorded from a healthy stage 生活習慣情報：Lifestyle information 口腔習慣：Oral health habits 歯磨き・舌磨き：Tooth brushing / tongue cleaning 健口体操：Oral exercises 歯科受診：Dental visits 食習慣、口腔兆候：Dietary habits, oral signs 運動習慣：Exercise habits 体操・筋力トレーニング：Calisthenics / strength training ウォーキング：Walking 有酸素運動：Aerobic exercise 文化活動：Cultural activities 発話・読書・趣味：Speaking, reading, hobbies 社会参加活動：Social participation activities “通いの場”参加、ボランティア活動： Participation in community gatherings, volunteer activities ＜Center＞---------- 初期登録：Initial registration 行動履歴：Behavioral history 意識醸成：Awareness building 行動変容：Behavioral change ＜Upper Right＞---------- 口腔機能モニタリングシステム：Oral function monitoring system 健口モニタリングゲーム：Oral health monitoring game 要支援者等情報共有システム： Information-sharing system for individuals requiring support ＜Center Right＞---------- AIオーラルレコメンドエンジン搭載アプリ： Application equipped with an AI oral recommendation engine “健口”や健康に最適な生活習慣の改善案を提示し意識醸成／行動変容を促すAIエンジン： An AI engine that proposes optimal lifestyle improvements for oral and general health, promoting awareness building and behavioral change ＜Lower Right＞---------- PHRフィードバック：PHR feedback 科学的データをグラフ化：Visualization of scientific data メッセージ送信：Message delivery アプリ指南／激励：In-app guidance / encouragement “システム”と“人”でサポート： Support through both “systems” and “people”

Potential Applications and Commercialization Prospects

● Use as an Information-Sharing Tool for Evacuation and Rescue During Disasters During disasters, people who need support can quickly become people who need rescue. Therefore, this system is intended to serve as a tool for sharing critical information in preparation for disasters. In Naka Town, preparations are underway to use the system for disaster preparedness. In collaboration with the Tokushima University Research Center for Environment and Disaster Prevention, we plan to prioritize collected information based on business continuity planning (BCP), which will further enhance the system’s functionality as a practical disaster prevention and response tool.

Last updated date：October 15, 2026