title: Correlation of cognitive and masticatory function in Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated chewing function in elderly individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and correlated chewing function with cognitive status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen elderly individuals with mild AD (mean age 76.7 ± 6.3 years; 8 men, 8 women) and 16 age and gender-matched healthy controls (mean age 75.23 ± 4.4 years; 8 men, 8 women) were included in this study. All volunteers wore removable prostheses: 11 were totally edentulous and five were partially edentulous in each group. Chewing function was evaluated via masticatory performance (MP) using Optocal chewable test material and a sieve fractionation method. Cognitive functioning was assessed by the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), administered by a trained examiner. Data were analyzed by non-paired t test and Pearson's correlation with α = 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to controls, mild AD patients had decreased MP (P < 0.01) and MMSE (P = 0.01). MP showed a moderate negative correlation with MMSE (r = -0.69).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mild AD was associated with impaired chewing function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge that mild AD has an impact on chewing is important for dental professionals in decision-making related to prosthetics and general dental treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Avenida Limeira, no. 901, Bairro Areião, Piracicaba, SP, CEP: 13414-903, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Heitor
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Avenida Limeira, no. 901, Bairro Areião, Piracicaba, SP, CEP: 13414-903, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giselle Rodrigues
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Paulista State University Julio de Mesquita Filho, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Luiz Riani
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Avenida Limeira, no. 901, Bairro Areião, Piracicaba, SP, CEP: 13414-903, Brazil. regarcia@fop.unicamp.br.
authors.forename: Renata Cunha Matheus
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Rodrigues Garcia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000503:physiopathology; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Cognition; Mastication