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Tooth loss, dementia may be linked, JADA
study suggests
CHICAGO, Oct. 10, 2007 – Tooth loss may predict the
development of dementia late in life,
according to research published in the
October issue of The Journal of the American
Dental Association (JADA).
Numerous past studies have shown that patients with dementia
are more likely than patients without the
condition to have poor oral health. Few
researchers, however, have examined the
relationship from the opposite direction, to
determine whether poor oral health actually
may contribute to the development of
dementia.
To that end, researchers from the University of Kentucky
College of Medicine and College of
Dentistry, Lexington, studied data from 144
participants in the Nun Study, a study of
aging and Alzheimer’s disease among Catholic
sisters of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
The researchers used dental records and
results of annual cognitive examinations to
study participants from the order’s
Milwaukee province who were 75 to 98 years
old.
“Of the participants who did not have dementia at the first
examination, those with few teeth (zero to
nine) had an increased risk of developing
dementia during the study compared with
those who had 10 or more teeth,” the authors
write.
They propose several possible reasons for the association
between tooth loss and dementia: not only
periodontal disease but also early-life
nutritional deficiencies, infections or
chronic diseases that may result
simultaneously in tooth loss and damage to
the brain.
However, they note, whether the tooth loss has any real role
in bringing about the dementia is impossible
to say on the basis of this study. “It is
not clear from our findings whether the
association is causal or casual,” they
write, urging further study.
###
Note: This study was published in the Journal of the American
Dental Association, but does not necessarily
reflect the policies or opinions of the
American Dental Association.
The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental
association, representing more than 155,000
dentist members.
The premier source of oral
health information, the ADA has advocated
for the public's health and promoted the art
and science of dentistry since 1859. The
ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities
develop and test dental products and
materials that have advanced the practice of
dentistry and made the patient experience
more positive.
The ADA Seal of Acceptance
long has been a valuable and respected guide
to consumer and professional products. JADA,
a monthly journal, is the ADA’s flagship
publication and the best-read scientific
journal in dentistry. For more information
about the ADA, visit the Association's Web
site at
www.ada.org.
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