While periodontitis was associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, it was not associated with dementia risk.
Moderate periodontitis was associated with decreased global cognition, verbal fluency, and immediate recall, the authors wrote.
“Since periodontitis has established feasible prevention and treatment approaches, these findings open new avenues for the prevention of cognitive decline,” wrote the authors, led by Dr. Sam Asher of the Institute of Dentistry at the University of Eastern Finland.
Studies have shown an association between tooth loss and dementia, but similar findings have been inconclusive for gum disease.
So to explore this association, the researchers conducted a cross-sectional study and longitudinal analysis using data from the population-based Health 2000 and its follow-up Health 2011. The cross-sectional study included 4,046 adults, while the analysis included 2,769 adults, the study showed.
Periodontal health was assessed using multiple clinical and radiographic measures, with severity based on periodontal pocket depth. The researchers performed cognitive tests at baseline and during follow-up, and obtained data on dementia diagnoses up to 2015 from health registers.
Moderate gum disease was associated with decreased global cognition (odds ratio [OR], 1.19; 1.02 to 1.40), decreased verbal fluency (OR, 1.16; 1 to 1.35), and decreased immediate recall (OR, 1.22; 1.04 to 1.42), the authors wrote.
In addition, periodontal pocket depth was associated with lower global cognition (OR, 1.22; 1.04 to 1.43), verbal fluency (OR, 1.18; 1.02 to 1.38), bleeding during verbal fluency probing (OR, 1.26; 1.07 to 1.48), and immediate recall (OR, 1.22; 1.02 to 1.45), they wrote.
Over time, moderate periodontitis was associated with decreased immediate recall (OR, 1.29; 1.04 to 1.60), severe periodontitis with decreased verbal fluency (OR, 1.46; 1.01 to 2.11), periodontal pocket depth with immediate recall (OR, 1.23; 1 to 1.53), and bleeding on probing with verbal fluency (OR, 1.31; 1.05 to 1.63).
However, the risk of dementia was not associated with poor periodontal health, the authors wrote.
However, the study also had limitations, they wrote, including not exploring factors such as oral habits, diet, or use of dental care services.
Poor gum health may be associated with decreased cognitive function, but not with dementia risk.
“Although periodontal inflammation may have adverse effects on cognition, its effects are likely limited and not sufficient to cause dementia,” Asher and colleagues wrote.
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