Abstract
Purpose: We conducted a 1-year cohort study in a community-dwelling elderly population to investigate associations between the possession of ≥ 20 teeth and onset of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Methods: A community-based comprehensive geriatric assessment including measurements of physical, mental, oral, and social functioning was conducted in elderly people aged ≥ 70 years in a suburban area of Sendai, Japan. Of 1,198 participants in baseline survey, 557 individuals (females, N=310) who had normal cognition at baseline and took part in the follow-up survey were included in the analysis. Cognitive function was evaluated by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) with a cutoff of 25/26 and subjects were classified as normal (MMSE ≥ 26) or having MCI (MMSE ≤ 25). We also assessed body mass index, history of stroke, myocardial infarction, hypertension, and diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, depressive symptoms, duration of education, marital status, social support, physical activity and self-assessed health as confounding factors for onset of MCI.
Results: Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that possession of ≥ 20 teeth was independently associated with decreased risk of MCI in elderly men. The odds ratio (95% Confidence Interval) of possession of ≥ 20 teeth for onset of MCI was 0.19 (0.04-0.82).
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that possession of ≥ 20 teeth might be advantageous to prevent cognitive impairment as well as masticatory dysfunction.
