Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 10, 2026
05:53
Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
Published on: July 24, 2013
17.2K
Association between dentition status and frailty: Findings from NHANES 2011-2018
Takamasa Komiyama1,2, Jennifer E Gallagher1, Wael Sabbah1
1Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Centre for Host Microbiome Interactions, Dental Public Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Journal of Prosthodontic Research
|April 8, 2026
Summary
Poor oral health is linked to frailty in older adults. Good nutrition may help reduce this risk, especially in older individuals. This study highlights the importance of both dental status and diet for healthy aging.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Oral Health
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Frailty is a significant geriatric syndrome associated with adverse health outcomes.
- Dentition status, including the number of remaining teeth and occlusal support, is crucial for nutritional intake.
- The interplay between oral health, nutrition, and frailty requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between dentition status and frailty in older adults.
- To explore the potential mitigating effect of dietary intake on this association.
- To examine how age influences the relationship between oral health and frailty.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of US adults aged ≥60 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) (2011-2018).
- Dentition assessed by Miyachi's Triangular Classification and functional tooth count.
- Frailty Index (FI) and Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015) used for frailty and dietary assessment, respectively.
- Beta regression analysis adjusted for covariates.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between poorer dentition status (higher zones in triangular classification) and higher Frailty Index scores.
- Each additional functional tooth was associated with a lower Frailty Index score.
- Dietary intake, assessed by HEI-2015, partially mitigated the association between dentition status and frailty.
- This mitigating effect of diet was more pronounced in younger older adults.
Conclusions:
- Dentition status is significantly associated with frailty in older US adults.
- Dietary intake plays a mitigating role in the relationship between oral health and frailty.
- Maintaining good oral health and adequate nutrition are important for preventing frailty in aging populations.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Bone Disorders
8.6K
Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
8.6K
01:15Teeth
2.3K
The formation of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is a complex process that begins in utero, around the sixth week of embryonic development. There are three stages to this process: the bud stage, the cap stage, and the bell stage.
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
2.3K
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
41
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from...
41
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
4.1K
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
4.1K
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
327
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
327
01:21Tooth Anatomy
2.9K
The human tooth enables us to eat a variety of foods, speak clearly, and even aid in shaping our faces. Teeth are composed of various elements that work together. Here's a detailed look at the anatomy of a human tooth.
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...
2.9K