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Tooth Loss and Dementia: A Critical Examination
1Department of Oral Sciences, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, School of Dentistry, The University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Journal of Dental Research
|September 18, 2020
Summary
Childhood cognitive function influences lifelong oral health, impacting tooth loss and cognitive decline in older adults. Better early cognition correlates with better oral health and preserved cognitive function later in life.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Dementia significantly contributes to disability in aging populations.
- While tooth loss is linked to dementia, existing evidence and proposed mechanisms are inconclusive.
- Risk factors for dementia include low education, hypertension, hearing loss, and lifestyle choices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a life course explanation for the association between tooth loss and cognitive decline in older adults.
- To investigate the role of early-life cognitive function in the relationship between oral health and cognitive aging.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a life course approach analyzing data from longstanding cohort studies.
- Examined the correlation between childhood cognitive function, lifelong oral health, and cognitive function in older age.
Main Results:
- Individuals with higher childhood cognitive function exhibit better oral health and less tooth loss throughout life.
- Poorer childhood cognitive function is associated with higher disease rates, reduced dental care access, and increased tooth loss.
- Cognitive differences observed from mid-adulthood are most pronounced in old age, with greater tooth loss in those with lower early cognitive ability.
Conclusions:
- The association between tooth loss and cognitive decline in older adults is primarily explained by cognitive function established in childhood.
- Early-life cognitive ability influences both oral health maintenance and cognitive aging trajectories.
- This life course perspective offers an empirically supported explanation for the observed link between missing teeth and cognitive impairment.
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