2019 Volume 34 Issue 3 Pages 389-398
The purpose of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of suspected mild cognitive impairment（MCI）and cognitive decline among elderly patients（65 and over）who visit dental clinics and to investigate the relationship between suspected MCI/cognitive decline and oral health status. The participants were patients who visited 15 dental clinics. Dentists examined the participants and interviewed them about their general health and oral health status. The participants also filled out questionnaires about their general and oral health. Suspected MCI was assessed via the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Japanese version（MoCA-J）. A total of 181 patients from 65 to 84 years old participated. Of the participants, 44.8％ were assessed as having suspected MCI, and 16.0％ had cognitive decline, and both suspected MCI and cognitive decline were influenced by age（p＜0.001）. The percentage of patients with cognitive decline was 8.5％ among the 65-74 age group, and 26.7％ among the 75-84 age group. Patients with cognitive decline had a lower number of present teeth（p＝0.009）, a higher percentage of subjective oral dryness（OR：4.89；95％CI：1.64-14.5）, and more oral pain than patients without cognitive impairment（OR：3.19；95％CI：1.13-9.04）. However, there were no differences between those with suspected MCI and those without cognitive impairment in terms of general health and oral health status. In order to promote early awareness of cognitive decline in dental outpatients, dentists should consider conducting MCI examinations with elderly patients, even if they do not have any noticeable symptoms. Dental professionals should be particularly alert to symptoms of cognitive impairment in patients with older age, fewer present teeth, subjective oral dryness, and oral pain.
