A major analysis of all relevant published studies indicates that poor periodontal health and tooth loss may increase the risk of both cognitive decline and dementia. The finding, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, affirms a long-suspected connection between dental and cognitive health.
The analysis included 47 studies. Poor periodontal health, reflected by having periodontitis, tooth loss, deep periodontal pockets, or alveolar bone loss, was linked to a 23% increase in risk for cognitive decline and a 21% higher risk of dementia. Tooth loss on its own was associated with a 23% higher odds of cognitive decline and a 13% higher risk of dementia. The overall quality of evidence was low, however.
“From a clinical perspective, our findings emphasise the importance of monitoring and management of periodontal health in the context of dementia prevention, although available evidence is not yet sufficient to point out clear ways for early identification of at-risk individuals, and the most efficient measures to prevent cognitive deterioration,” the authors wrote.
Source: Wiley
