Does Cognitive Function Affect Oral Health During Aging?

EurekAlert cites a new Community Dentistry & Oral Epidemiology study , which found that poor cognitive function in older adults was associated with poorer oral health and higher risk of tooth loss later in life. The study included more than 4,400 U.K.-based adults aged 50 or older whose cognitive function was assessed in 2002-2003. In 2014-15, those same participants reported their general oral health status and the number of teeth they had remaining. Researchers note there was a clear gradient association between cognitive function and tooth loss when cognitive function score was categorized into quintiles. People in the lowest quintile reflecting poorer cognitive function had a 39 percent higher chance of tooth loss than those ranking in the highest quintile. "Our study suggested a close link between cognitive function and oral health in older adults," comments senior author Dr. Jianhua Wu of the University of Leeds. "The findings indicate that an improvement in cognitive function could potentially improve oral health and reduce the risk of tooth loss in the aging population."