Tooth Loss Linked to Decline in Memory and Walking Speed

Tooth Loss Linked to Decline in Memory and Walking Speed

A new report out of the University College London (UCL) points to a correlation between tooth loss in older adults and a decline in memory and walking speeds. Published online in December in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, the study, “Tooth Loss Associated with Physical and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults,” analyzed more than 3,100 adults age 60 and older from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a national prospective cohort study of community-dwelling individuals age 50 and older. Comparing performance in tests of memory and walking speed among subjects with partial tooth loss vs complete tooth loss, the team reported that edentulous individuals performed 10% worse than those who had retained some of their dentition.

Even after accounting for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, health behaviors, depression, and socioeconomic status, the association between edentulousness, poor memory, and delay in gross motor skills remained consistent. This correlation was more pronounced among adults age 60 to 74 than in those age 75 and older. Lead study author Georgios Tsakos, PhD, MSc, a senior clinical lecturer and honorary consultant in dental public health at the college’s Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, says the research may influence standards of care, and underscores the importance of initiatives that promote access to care across all socioeconomic groups. “We find that common causes of tooth loss and mental and physical decline are often linked to socioeconomic status, highlighting the importance of broader social determinants, such as education and wealth, to improve the oral and general health of the poorest members of society,” Tsakos notes. “Regardless of what is behind the link between tooth loss and decline in function, recognizing excessive tooth loss presents an opportunity for early identification of adults at high risk of faster mental and physical decline later in life.”

Hygiene Connection E-Newsletter

January 2015