Cognitive Function and Oral Perception in Older Adults

Cognitive Function and Oral Perception in Older Adults

What if the decline of cognitive impairment could be noted before a clinical diagnosis was made? This may be possible, a new study reveals. The research, titled “Cognitive Function and Oral Perception in Older Adults,” was presented in March at the 43rd Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the American Association for Dental Research in Charlotte, NC, and suggests that cognitive function decline is related to tactile and taste perceptions among individuals age 80 and older who have not been clinically diagnosed with dementia.

To reach this conclusion, Japanese researchers evaluated 956 older adults who were either living independently or in a community setting. Oral tactile perception was tested, with subjects instructed to use their tongues to identify one of six shapes. Taste perception was measured by sipping a water-based solution containing a sweet, sour, salty, or bitter taste. The intensity of each taste was exaggerated until it could be identified by the participant. The analysis also considered gender and the presence of natural teeth.

A review of the data revealed that the ability to identify shapes was related to the number of natural teeth in the mouth. Cognitive assessment also demonstrated a positive relationship between the presence of natural teeth and the ability to taste. Additionally, researchers observed that women identified sour, salty, and bitter tastes less frequently than men. The results suggest that the decline of cognitive function may be related to tactile and taste perceptions among adults age 80 and older without dementia.

Hygiene Connection E-Newsletter

April 2014