Cognitive status and periodontitis: Is there a correlation? A cross-sectional study

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is the most accurate cognitive screening tool for early diagnoses of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, the majority of research on the correlation between MCI and periodontitis has been conducted using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

The study aimed to determine a possible correlation between the gingival index (GI), periodontitis staging and MCI as evaluated by the MoCA in adults aged ≥55 years.

A total of 120 Mexican patients with or without periodontal disease who met the selection criteria were included in this cross-sectional study. A comprehensive clinical and radiographic evaluation was conducted to determine the periodontal status of all patients. The MoCA was applied to assess cognitive impairment. Descriptive statistics and logistic model-based multivariate statistical analyses were performed to identify variables associated with MCI.

The cognitive status of subjects aged ≥55 years with and without periodontitis was mildly impaired in more than half of the studied sample. Thirty-four patients were diagnosed as periodontally healthy (group 1), 48 were diagnosed with mild to moderate periodontitis (group 2; stages I and II), and 38 had severe periodontitis (group 3; stages III and IV); 54% of the subjects exhibited MCI, mostly in groups 2 and 3. A negative correlation was observed between GI and MCI (p = 0.025). Other prognostic variables associated with MCI were loss of clinical attachment level (CAL) (odds ratio (OR) = 1.68 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-2.68)), sex and education level.

These findings highlight the potential clinical relevance of gingival and periodontal parameters, such as GI and CAL, and their association with MCI in patients of advanced age.