Tooth loss linked to decline for older people
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- Published: Thursday, 12 February 2015 07:49
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Researchers have found that tooth loss appears to be linked to both physical and mental decline in older adults and they suggest that it may serve as a potential early marker of decline in older age. In the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, the team from University College London (UCL) in the UK analysed data from over 3,100 adults aged 60 and over living in England.
The researchers compared performance in tests of memory and walking speed of participants who had none of their own teeth with equivalents who had some natural teeth. The analysis showed that subjects who had lost all their natural teeth performed around 10% worse in both memory and walking than counterparts with natural teeth.
Lead author Dr. Georgios Tsakos, of UCL's Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, says the findings suggest: "Tooth loss could be used as an early marker of mental and physical decline in older age, particularly among 60-74 year-olds."
The researchers also looked at the link between losing all natural teeth and having poorer memory and slower walking speed 10 years later. This was noticeably stronger in the adults aged 60-74 years than in those aged 75 and over. Dr. Tsakos says the causes of tooth loss and mental and physical decline are often tied to socioeconomic status, emphasizing "the importance of broader social determinants such as education and wealth to improve the oral and general health of the poorest members of society."
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