title: Midlife Cognitive Ability, Education, and Tooth Loss in Older Danes.
abstract: To examine the possible influence of cognitive ability and education at age 50 or 60 on number of teeth at age 70.
  
  
  
  Community-dwelling population in Copenhagen, Denmark.
  
  
  
  Men and women born in 1914 (N = 302).
  
  
  
  Cognitive ability was assessed using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale at age 50 or 60. A global cognitive ability measure was used as a continuous measure and according to tertile. Information on education was gathered using a questionnaire at age 50 or 60. A clinical oral examination took place at age 70, and oral health was measured according to number of teeth (<6 vs ≥6). Baseline covariates were smoking, alcohol, sex, and income.
  
  
  
  Logistic regression analyses revealed that greater cognitive ability and educational attainment had a protective effect against risk of tooth loss. The associations were significant and persisted after adjusting for confounders and a two-way interaction between cognitive ability and education.
  
  
  
  Higher education level and cognitive ability measured at age 50 or 60 were associated with having more teeth at age 70. Whether these findings are due to the interaction of these factors with oral health, related socioeconomic factors, or other factors remains to be studied.
authors.affiliation: Section of Social Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Danish Aging Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kristine Harrsen
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Bachkati
authors.affiliation: Danish Aging Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.|Department of Public Health and Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Erik Lykke
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.affiliation: Section of Social Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brønnum-Hansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Poul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holm-Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Cognitive Ability; Logitudinal study; Number of teeth