New York University researchers have found a link between diabetes, tooth loss and cognitive abilities. The results, published in the Journal of Dental Research, show that timely dental treatment, as well as diabetes control, help reduce the decline in mental function and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Day.Az with reference to Lenta.ru.
The scientists analyzed the data for 12 years (2006-2018) of 9948 elderly people, who were distributed by age (from 65 to 74, from 75 to 84 and from 85 and older). All subjects were measured in terms of memory and cognitive functions, which were assessed every two years. In addition, they were asked about tooth loss, diabetes, and other medical and demographic factors. Of particular interest were people who had lost all their teeth.
They found that patients aged 65 to 84 with diabetes and complete dentition had worse cognitive performance than participants without any disease. Over time, elderly people aged 65 to 74 years with only diabetes experienced an accelerated decline in mental function, as did the group aged 65 to 84 years without teeth, but in subjects aged 65 to 74 years with diabetes and complete loss of teeth experienced the fastest rate of cognitive decline.
Diabetes is known to be a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. This is because high blood sugar, insulin resistance, inflammation and related heart disease contribute to changes in the brain. There is a similar correlation with poor oral health – associated inflammation leads to cognitive impairment. In addition, missing teeth can make chewing difficult, leading to dietary changes that then cause nutritional deficiencies. In turn, deficiency can be exacerbated by impaired glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in diabetes, which is another risk factor.