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Oral health and cognitive status in the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project: A cross‐sectional study in community‐dwelling older Australian men
Author(s) -
Takehara Sachiko,
Wright Fredrick A. Clive,
Waite Louise M.,
Naganathan Vasi,
Hirani Vasant,
Blyth Fiona M.,
Le Couteur David G.,
Seibel Markus J.,
Handelsman David J.,
Cumming Robert G.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
gerodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1741-2358
pISSN - 0734-0664
DOI - 10.1111/ger.12469
Subject(s) - medicine , cross sectional study , odds ratio , cognition , confidence interval , gerontology , tooth loss , oral health , demography , dentistry , psychiatry , pathology , sociology
Background Several studies have examined the relationship between cognition and oral health in older populations. To further understand this relationship, we examined the associations between cognitive function, chewing capacity and the number of teeth present in community‐dwelling older males in Australia. Methods Data were obtained from cross‐sectional analysis of fourth wave of the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP). Participants were 369 community‐dwelling males aged 78 years or over. Cognitive function was measured utilising the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). Chewing capacity was determined on ability to chew food items of different textures, and oral health data were collected. Ordinal regression was used to analyse associations between MMSE (four categories) and chewing capacity and number of natural teeth present. Results Overall, 67.5% of participants reported that they could chew all 11 listed food items. Participants with fewer than 20 teeth were statistically significantly more likely to have cognitive impairment (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.87; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25‐2.79, adjusted OR 1.62; 95% CI 1.07‐2.43). Participants with limited chewing capacity were also more likely to have cognitive impairment (unadjusted OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.25‐2.94, adjusted OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.03‐2.49). Conclusions This study suggests either that older men with fewer than 20 natural teeth and those with limited chewing capacity are more likely to have an associated cognitive impairment or that those with cognitive impairment are more likely to have fewer teeth and limited chewing capacity. Further longitudinal studies should clarify these relationships.