Edentulism, social mobility, and cognitive aging: a life course perspective

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Public Health

Background:

• Edentulism (tooth loss) and social mobility are linked to cognitive decline.
• Few studies have explored their combined impact on cognition across different age groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the independent and joint effects of edentulism and intergenerational social mobility on cognitive function.
• To examine age-specific patterns in these relationships.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of longitudinal data from 23,158 adults (aged 51+) in the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2020).
• Cognitive function assessed via the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status.
• Social mobility measured by intergenerational education, and edentulism by self-report.
• Linear mixed-effects models used to analyze cognitive trajectories.

Main Results:

• Edentulism was associated with lower baseline cognition and accelerated decline.
• Higher socioeconomic position (SEP) groups showed better baseline cognition and slower decline.
• Interactions between edentulism and social mobility were most significant in adults aged 65-74.
• These effects were not significant in adults aged 75+.

Conclusions:

• Edentulism and social mobility independently and interactively affect cognitive aging in adults aged 51-74.
• Findings underscore the need to address oral health and social determinants of health early to support cognitive health across diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.