Association between cognitive function and periodontal disease in older adults.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between cognitive function and periodontal disease in noninstitutionalized older adults.


METHODS
Population-based cross-sectional study.


METHODS
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001 to 2002.


METHODS
Eight hundred three dentate participants aged 60 and older who completed the periodontal examination and cognitive function test.


METHODS
Periodontal examination, including assessment of probing depth and attachment loss, was performed. Periodontal disease was defined as at least 10% of sites with clinical attachment loss of more than 4 mm and at least 10% sites with probing depth greater than 3 mm. Cognitive function was measured using the 2-minute Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST).


RESULTS
Higher cognitive function was associated with lower odds of periodontal disease. After controlling for demographics, educational level, body mass index, chronic diseases, health behaviors, bleeding on probing, and probing sites, the odds ratio for periodontal disease was 0.69 (95% confidence interval=0.51-0.94) for each standard deviation (SD) increase in the DSST score. Each SD increase in DSST score was associated with a 31% less likelihood of periodontal disease. Mean DSST scores for participants with and without periodontal disease were 42.2 and 45.5 (P=.02), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher cognitive function was associated with lower odds of periodontal disease in noninstitutionalized older adults.
Yu
Yau-Hua
YH
School of Dentistry, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Kuo
Hsu-Ko
HK
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States