Summary: Researchers report older adults with significant tooth loss were less physically and mentally functional than those with better oral health.
Source: American Geriatrics Society.
Maintaining good oral health may help older adults prevent a variety of health problems and disabilities. However, the effect of tooth loss on physical or cognitive health and well-being is unknown.
In a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers explored this connection. To do so, they examined information from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) project.
In their study, the research team examined information from more than 60,000 community-dwelling people aged 65 and older who did not meet the Japanese criteria for needing long-term care.
The participants were given questionnaires to complete. They answered a number of questions, including providing information about:
- How many teeth they had
- Their medical and mental health history
- How many falls they had over the last year
- Whether they smoked or drank alcohol
- Their body weight
- How well they were able to perform common activities of daily life
The researchers learned older adults who have significant tooth loss are less functional when compared with people who lose fewer teeth.
The research team suggested that it is essential that older adults receive the support they need to maintain good oral health self-care practices, and that they receive adequate dental care.
Source: Daniel E. Trucil – American Geriatrics Society
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Original Research: Abstract for “Tooth Loss and Decline in Functional Capacity: A Prospective Cohort Study from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study” by Yukihiro Sato DDS, Jun Aida DDS, PhD, MPH, Katsunori Kondo MD, PhD, Toru Tsuboya MD, PhD, Richard G. Watt MSc, PhD, BDS, Tatsuo Yamamoto DDS, PhD, Shihoko Koyama DDS, Yusuke Matsuyama DDS, and Ken Osaka MD, PhD, MPH in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Published online September 9 2016 doi:10.1111/jgs.14324
[cbtabs][cbtab title=”MLA”]American Geriatrics Society . “Losing Teeth Raises Risk of Physical and Mental Disability in Older Adults.” NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 13 September 2016.
<https://neurosciencenews.com/aging-tooth-loss-mental-health-5042/>.[/cbtab][cbtab title=”APA”]American Geriatrics Society . (2016, September 13). Losing Teeth Raises Risk of Physical and Mental Disability in Older Adults. NeuroscienceNews. Retrieved September 13, 2016 from https://neurosciencenews.com/aging-tooth-loss-mental-health-5042/[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Chicago”]American Geriatrics Society . “Losing Teeth Raises Risk of Physical and Mental Disability in Older Adults.” https://neurosciencenews.com/aging-tooth-loss-mental-health-5042/ (accessed September 13, 2016).[/cbtab][/cbtabs]
Abstract
Tooth Loss and Decline in Functional Capacity: A Prospective Cohort Study from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study
Objectives
To describe associations between tooth loss and changes in higher-level functional capacity.
Design
Prospective cohort study.
Setting
Twenty-four Japanese municipalities between 2010 and 2013.
Participants
Functionally independent community-dwelling persons aged 65 and older (N = 62,333).
Measurements
Self-reported number of teeth was used as an exposure variable. The outcome was changes in higher-level functional capacity measured using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC), which consists of three domains: instrumental activities of daily living, intellectual activity, and social roles. The TMIG-IC score ranges from 0 (lowest function) to 13 (highest function). All covariates were chosen from baseline demographic, socioeconomic, health behavior, and health variables based upon evidence from previous studies. Inverse-probability weighting (IPW) with propensity score and multiple linear regression, estimating nonstandardized coefficients (β) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were used.
Results
The baseline response rate was 65.2%, and the follow-up rate was 70.1%. During the follow-up period, participants’ TMIG-IC score declined by an average of 0.247 points (standard deviation: 1.446). The results showed a significant dose-response association between tooth loss and decline in higher-level functional capacity in multiple linear regression models. IPW models estimated the increment in TMIG-IC score (β = 0.170, 95% CI = 0.114–0.227) if edentulous participants gained 20 or more natural teeth.
Conclusion
Tooth loss is associated with future decline in higher-level functional capacity. IPW models suggest that treatment for tooth loss attenuates decline in higher-level functional capacity.
“Tooth Loss and Decline in Functional Capacity: A Prospective Cohort Study from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study” by Yukihiro Sato DDS, Jun Aida DDS, PhD, MPH, Katsunori Kondo MD, PhD, Toru Tsuboya MD, PhD, Richard G. Watt MSc, PhD, BDS, Tatsuo Yamamoto DDS, PhD, Shihoko Koyama DDS, Yusuke Matsuyama DDS, and Ken Osaka MD, PhD, MPH in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Published online September 9 2016 doi:10.1111/jgs.14324
