Poor Oral Health Is Associated With Inflammation, Aortic Valve Calcification, and Brain Volume Among Forager-Farmers.

Area of Science:

• Human Health
• Dental Medicine
• Gerontology

Background:

• Poor oral health is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and dementia.
• Confounding factors like socioeconomic status and lifestyle in industrialized populations complicate understanding the direct oral health-chronic disease link.
• The Tsimane subsistence population offers a unique model due to their poor dental health but low rates of chronic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between dental health indicators and cardiovascular and brain aging in the Tsimane population.
• To determine if the oral health-chronic disease link persists in the absence of common confounding factors.

Main Methods:

• Dental health was assessed in 739 Tsimane adults (40-92 years).
• Cardiac health was evaluated using chest computed tomography (CT) and brain health using brain CT.
• Inflammation markers, body mass index, and cognitive function were also assessed.

Main Results:

• Tooth loss was prevalent, increasing with age and higher in women.
• Teeth with exposed pulp correlated with higher inflammation and lower body mass index.
• Aortic valve calcification and brain tissue loss were associated with a higher number of teeth with exposed pulp.
• No association was found between tooth loss/damaged teeth and coronary or thoracic aortic calcification.

Conclusions:

• Dental health, particularly teeth with exposed pulp, is associated with indicators of chronic disease, including aortic valve calcification and brain tissue loss.
• These associations were observed in a population with minimal confounding factors, supporting a direct link between oral health and systemic aging.
• Findings highlight the importance of oral health for overall health, even in populations with low baseline cardiovascular and dementia risk.