Health · Medical Research · 26 mins ago
Japanese study links tooth loss in older people to dementia risk
A Tohoku University team found an association between tooth loss and dementia in older people in Japan.
The study followed 47,293 people aged 65 and older across 22 municipalities for about nine years.
Researchers estimated that tooth loss accounted for 7.2% of dementia cases in the group, meaning some cases might have been prevented if teeth had not been lost.
Tooth loss ranked third among the risk factors assessed, behind depressive tendencies and social isolation.
Among men, it ranked first, while among women it ranked fourth.
The finding matters because earlier research had judged evidence linking oral health to dementia insufficient, and dementia cases worldwide are projected to triple by 2050.
The team says oral care could help prevent dementia and plans to examine whether treating missing teeth affects dementia risk.
A Tohoku University study found that having fewer than 20 remaining teeth was associated with a higher risk of dementia among older people in Japan.
The analysis followed 47,293 people aged 65 or older across 22 municipalities for about nine years.
Tooth loss accounted for 7.2% of dementia onset cases and ranked third among the factors assessed.
Among men, it ranked first, accounting for 12.0%; among women, it ranked fourth, at 6.1%.
The researchers said oral care and quitting smoking could become important targets for dementia prevention.
- Who
- A Tohoku University research team studied older people in Japan.
- What
- The study linked having fewer than 20 remaining teeth with dementia risk.
- When
- Participants were tracked from 2013 to 2022. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.
- Where
- 22 municipalities across Japan.
- Why
- The study examined how tooth loss compared with other factors associated with dementia risk.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers tracked 47,293 people aged 65 or older across 22 municipalities in Japan.
Mainichi EN reported the study’s findings.
- Participants
- 47,293 people aged 65 or older
- Study locations
- 22 municipalities across Japan
- Follow-up period
- About nine years, from 2013 to 2022
- Tooth-loss measure
- Fewer than 20 remaining teeth
- Dementia cases attributed to tooth loss
- 7.2%
- Risk ranking among men
- First, at 12.0%
What people are saying
It's possible that losing teeth worsens nutritional status, or that systemic inflammation associated with periodontal disease and other conditions in the preceding stage has an effect.
Using dentures may reduce the risk. In the future, we would like to examine the relationship between treatment for missing teeth and the onset of dementia.