MEDICAL NEWS TODAY – Around 5 million people aged 65 years or older in the United States have dementia.
Researchers have noted a potential relationship between tooth loss and dementia and cognitive decline.
In the present study, the researchers conducted a meta-analysis to better understand what the relationship between tooth loss, cognitive decline, and dementia may be.
They found a link between more tooth loss and a greater risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
In a new meta-analysis, researchers have identified a connection between tooth loss and a risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
“Given the staggering number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia each year and the opportunity to improve oral health across the lifespan, it’s important to gain a deeper understanding of the connection between poor oral health and cognitive decline.”
The researchers found that the more teeth a person had lost, the greater their risk of developing dementia or cognitive decline.
The research, published in JAMDA: The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, lays the ground for researchers to determine whether tooth loss causes cognitive decline and dementia, and if so, what accounts for this.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, around 5 million people aged 65 years or older in the United States have dementia.
Dementia refers to a variety of conditions characterized by cognitive issues that affect a person’s everyday life.
The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, accounting for 60–80% of dementia cases. However, it can also be due to a stroke.
Other types of the condition include Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and mixed dementia, which can involve multiple types of dementia.
There is no known cure for neurodegenerative dementias, such as Alzheimer’s disease, and clinicians typically manage the symptoms. They also recommend eating a more balanced diet and increasing physical activity … READ MORE.
