Skip to main content

Association between tooth loss and cognitive decline: A 13-year longitudinal study of Chinese older adults.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Li, J; Xu, H; Pan, W; Wu, B
Published in: PloS one
January 2017

To examine the association between the number of teeth remaining and cognitive decline among Chinese older adults over a 13-year period.A large national longitudinal survey of Chinese older adults.The Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) (1998-2011).A total of 8,153 eligible participants aged 60+ interviewed in up to six waves.Cognitive function and teeth number were measured at each interview. Cognitive function was measured by the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE). Number of natural teeth was self-reported. Individuals with severe cognitive impairment were excluded. Covariates included demographic characteristics, adult socioeconomic status characteristics, childhood socioeconomic status, health conditions, and health behaviors. Linear mixed models were applied in the analysis.The mean teeth number at baseline was 17.5(SD = 0.1), and the mean of baseline cognitive function was 27.3(SD = 0.0). Cognitive function declined over time (β = -0.19, P < .001) after controlling covariates. But, regardless of time, more teeth were associated with better cognitive function (β = 0.01, P < .001). The interaction of teeth number and time was significant (β = 0.01, P < .001), suggesting that the participants who had more teeth showed a slower pace of cognitive decline over time than those with fewer teeth after controlling for other covariates.This study showed that tooth loss was associated with cognitive decline among Chinese older adults. Further studies are needed to examine the linkages between cognitive decline and oral health status using clinical examination data.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

PloS one

DOI

EISSN

1932-6203

ISSN

1932-6203

Publication Date

January 2017

Volume

12

Issue

2

Start / End Page

e0171404

Related Subject Headings

  • Tooth Loss
  • Social Class
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Linear Models
  • Humans
  • General Science & Technology
  • Female
  • Cognitive Dysfunction
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Li, J., Xu, H., Pan, W., & Wu, B. (2017). Association between tooth loss and cognitive decline: A 13-year longitudinal study of Chinese older adults. PloS One, 12(2), e0171404. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0171404
Li, Juan, Hanzhang Xu, Wei Pan, and Bei Wu. “Association between tooth loss and cognitive decline: A 13-year longitudinal study of Chinese older adults.PloS One 12, no. 2 (January 2017): e0171404. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0171404.
Li, Juan, et al. “Association between tooth loss and cognitive decline: A 13-year longitudinal study of Chinese older adults.PloS One, vol. 12, no. 2, Jan. 2017, p. e0171404. Epmc, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0171404.

Published In

PloS one

DOI

EISSN

1932-6203

ISSN

1932-6203

Publication Date

January 2017

Volume

12

Issue

2

Start / End Page

e0171404

Related Subject Headings

  • Tooth Loss
  • Social Class
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Linear Models
  • Humans
  • General Science & Technology
  • Female
  • Cognitive Dysfunction