title: Association between tooth loss and the development of mild memory impairment in the elderly: the Fujiwara-kyo Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tooth loss may be a modifiable risk factor for memory disorders, but the causal relationship has not been evaluated sufficiently.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This 5-year prospective cohort study investigated the effect of tooth loss on the development of mild memory impairment (MMI) among the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data are from the baseline and follow-up examinations of 2,335 community residents who were cognitively intact at baseline. The number of remaining teeth at baseline was classified as zero, 1-8, 9-16, 17-24, and 25-32. The main outcome for the analysis was the development of MMI at follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for potential confounding factors in multivariable logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio of per 1 tooth loss at baseline was 1.02 (95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.03). The odds ratio of edentulism for MMI was 2.39 (1.48-3.86) compared to 25-32 teeth. The odds ratio of becoming edentulous compared to retaining 1-8 teeth in the 1-8 teeth group at baseline was 4.68 (1.50-14.58).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tooth loss predicts the development of MMI among the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Nara Medical University, Japan.
authors.forename: Nozomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.affiliation: Mie Prefectural Mental Care Center, Japan Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Nara Medical University, Japan.
authors.forename: Kimiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomioka
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Tezukayama University, Japan.
authors.forename: Motokazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yanagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Tezukayama University, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Nara Medical University, Japan.
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kurumatani
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; dementia; memory; periodontal disease; prospective cohort study; tooth loss