Kodai Hatta1, Yasuyuki Gondo2, Kei Kamide3, Yukie Masui4, Hiroki Inagaki4, Takeshi Nakagawa5, Ken-Ichi Matsuda6, Chisato Inomata6, Hajime Takeshita6, Yusuke Mihara6, Motoyoshi Fukutake6, Masahiro Kitamura7, Shinya Murakami7, Mai Kabayama3, Tatsuro Ishizaki4, Yasumichi Arai8, Ken Sugimoto9, Hiromi Rakugi9, Yoshinobu Maeda6, Kazunori Ikebe6. 1. Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, 1-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. Electronic address: khatta@dent.osaka-u.ac.jp. 2. Osaka University Graduate School of Human Sciences, Department of Clinical Thanatology and Geriatric Behavioral Science, 1-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. 3. Osaka University Graduate School of Allied Health Sciences, 1-7 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. 4. Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, 35-2 Sakae-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan. 5. National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 7-430 Moriokamachi, Obu, Aichi 474-8511, Japan. 6. Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, 1-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. 7. Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Department of Periodontics, 1-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. 8. Center for Supercentenarian Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Sinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. 9. Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Geriatric and General Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Dementia is a growing health problem for countries with aging populations, but few effective dementia treatments are available. However, there is increasing interest in oral health as a modifiable risk factor in interventions to prevent cognitive decline. This study aimed to investigate the impact of oral health on the decline of cognitive function over 3 years among Japanese people aged 70 and 80 years. METHODS: Participants (n = 860) were community-dwelling older adults who participated in baseline and follow-up surveys (at baseline: 69-71 years n = 423; 79-81 years, n = 437). Registered dentists examined the number of teeth, number of functional teeth, number of periodontal teeth, and occlusal force. The Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment was used to evaluate cognitive function. We also evaluated socioeconomic factors, medical history, drinking and smoking habits, physical performance, genetic factors, and C-reactive protein concentration in blood. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to examine how oral health at baseline influenced cognitive decline over 3 years. RESULTS: The GEE showed that the number of teeth (non-standardized coefficient: B = 0.031, p = 0.022) and occlusal force (B = 0.103, p = 0.004) at baseline were associated with cognitive function at follow-up, even after adjusting for other risk factors. Furthermore, maintaining more teeth (B = 0.009, p = 0.004) and a stronger occlusal force (B = 0.020, p = 0.040) buffered cognitive decline. CONCLUSIONS: Number of teeth and occlusal force predict cognitive decline over 3 subsequent years in Japanese older adults aged 70 and 80 years.
PURPOSE:Dementia is a growing health problem for countries with aging populations, but few effective dementia treatments are available. However, there is increasing interest in oral health as a modifiable risk factor in interventions to prevent cognitive decline. This study aimed to investigate the impact of oral health on the decline of cognitive function over 3 years among Japanese people aged 70 and 80 years. METHODS:Participants (n = 860) were community-dwelling older adults who participated in baseline and follow-up surveys (at baseline: 69-71 years n = 423; 79-81 years, n = 437). Registered dentists examined the number of teeth, number of functional teeth, number of periodontal teeth, and occlusal force. The Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment was used to evaluate cognitive function. We also evaluated socioeconomic factors, medical history, drinking and smoking habits, physical performance, genetic factors, and C-reactive protein concentration in blood. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to examine how oral health at baseline influenced cognitive decline over 3 years. RESULTS: The GEE showed that the number of teeth (non-standardized coefficient: B = 0.031, p = 0.022) and occlusal force (B = 0.103, p = 0.004) at baseline were associated with cognitive function at follow-up, even after adjusting for other risk factors. Furthermore, maintaining more teeth (B = 0.009, p = 0.004) and a stronger occlusal force (B = 0.020, p = 0.040) buffered cognitive decline. CONCLUSIONS: Number of teeth and occlusal force predict cognitive decline over 3 subsequent years in Japanese older adults aged 70 and 80 years.