The impact of tooth loss on cognitive function
Metadata
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Galindo Moreno, Pablo Antonio; López Chaichio, Lucia; Padial Molina, Miguel; O'Valle Ravassa, Francisco Javier; Catena Martínez, AndrésEditorial
Springer
Materia
Oral health Mastication Cognitive dysfunction Dementia Aging Dental prosthesis
Date
2021-12-08Referencia bibliográfica
Galindo-Moreno, P... [et al.]. The impact of tooth loss on cognitive function. Clin Oral Invest (2021). [https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-021-04318-4]
Sponsorship
Junta de Andalucia CTS-138 CTS-176 CTS-1028; University of Granada 2016-P1-23; Universidad de Granada/CBUAAbstract
Objective To investigate if there is epidemiological evidence of an association between edentulism and cognitive decline
beside that currently available from limited sample-sized case series and cross-sectional studies considering limited
co-variables.
Materials and methods Data from two USA national health surveys [NHIS 2014–2017 and NHANES 2005–2018] were
analyzed using multinomial logistic regression to study the impact of type of edentulism and number of remaining teeth on
memory and concentration problems. Age, gender, socioeconomic status, education level, cardiovascular health index, body
mass index, exercise, alcohol, smoking habits, and anxiety and depression were used as covariates.
Results The combined population sample was 102,291 individuals. Age, socioeconomic status, educational level, anxiety
and depression levels, and edentulism showed the highest odds ratios for cognitive decline. Number of teeth present in the
mouth was found to be a predictor of cognitive status. This association showed a gradient effect, so that the lower the number
of teeth, the greater the risk of exhibiting cognitive decline.
Conclusions Edentulism was found among the higher ORs for cognitive impairment.
Clinical relevance Maintenance of functional teeth through the promotion of oral health may contribute to the preservation of
memory/concentration and other essential cognitive functions. Thus, increasing and efficiently coordinating efforts aimed at
preventing of tooth loss in the adult population could substantially contribute to reduce the incidence of cognitive impairment.