Relationship between aging and periodontal disease severity in gauge-raised cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)

The study aimed to evaluate the periodontal disease status in different age groups and clarify the relationship between aging and the severity of periodontal disease. The test animals were cynomolgus monkeys that were born and raised at Tsukuba Primate Research Center, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition. The participants were divided into three groups: young (5-10 years old), middle (10-19 years old), and old (≥20 years old). The Plaque Index (PLI), Gingival Index (GI), Probing pocket depth (PPD), and Bleeding on probing (BOP) were used for the periodontal examination. Representative teeth were also examined. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify Porphyromonas macacae in dental plaque. Multiple comparisons and regression analyses were used to analyze the relationship between each age group and each oral examination index. Statistically significant differences were found between the age groups and periodontal examination index. Multiple regression analysis revealed that age was strongly correlated with each oral examination index. Based on these results, oral examinations of cynomolgus monkeys kept in the same environment confirmed an association between aging and periodontal disease severity. Monkeys at this facility are expected to serve as new experimental models for elucidating the mechanisms underlying the progression of age-related periodontal disease.