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Tooth Loss Associated with Physical and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
Author(s) -
Tsakos Georgios,
Watt Richard G.,
Rouxel Patrick L.,
Oliveira Cesar,
Demakakos Panayotes
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.13190
Subject(s) - medicine , tooth loss , cognitive decline , anthropometry , gerontology , cognition , socioeconomic status , cohort , recall , longitudinal study , demography , dementia , population , psychology , dentistry , psychiatry , oral health , disease , environmental health , pathology , cognitive psychology , sociology
Objectives To examine the effect of total tooth loss (edentulousness) on decline in physical and cognitive functioning over 10 years in older adults in England. Design Secondary data analysis. Setting English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a national prospective cohort study of community‐dwelling people aged 50 and older. Participants Individuals aged 60 and older (N = 3,166). Measurements Cognitive function (memory) was measured using a 10‐word recall test. Physical function was assessed using gait speed (m/s). Generalized estimating equations were used to model associations between baseline edentulousness and six repeated measurements of gait speed and memory from 2002–03 to 2012–13. Models were sequentially adjusted for time, demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, comorbidities, health behaviors, depressive symptoms, and anthropometric measurements and mutually adjusted for gait speed or memory. Results Edentulous participants recalled 0.88 fewer words and were 0.09 m/s slower than dentate participants after adjusting for time and demographics. Only the latter association remained significant after full adjustment, with edentulous participants being 0.02 m/s slower than dentate participants. In age‐stratified analyses, baseline edentulousness was associated with both outcomes in fully adjusted models in participants aged 60 to 74 but not in those aged 75 and older. Supplementary analysis indicated significant associations between baseline edentulousness and 4‐year change in gait speed and memory in participants aged 60 to 74; the former was fully explained in the fully adjusted model and the latter after adjusting for socioeconomic status. Conclusion Total tooth loss was independently associated with physical and cognitive decline in older adults in England. Tooth loss is a potential early marker of decline in older age.