Abstract
Age-related decline in cognitive function is a major challenge in geriatric healthcare. A possible explanation is that the tooth loss or low chewing ability is at cause of cognitive impairment or dementia. The study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between chewing ability and cognitive function in the elderly. A total of 563 participants aged 65 years or over residing in urban and rural areas of South Korea were surveyed. The chewing ability was measured by objectively measurable indications such as the number of remaining teeth, denture status, color-changeable gum, and occlusal balance using T-Scan III®. The cognitive function was measured by the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination-Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS) and a score of 24 or more (out of 30) indicates a normal cognition, below 23 indicates cognitive impairment. The association between socio-demographic factors, chewing ability factors, and cognitive function demonstrated statistically significant results. When comparing the denture status and chewing ability, the proportion of need denture group had fewer remaining teeth and anterior balanced occlusion. The average number of remaining teeth in anterior balanced occlusion with cognitive impairment was 11.2 compared to posterior balanced occlusion with the normal cognition 19.2. A multiple linear regression analysis declared a significant correlation between number of remaining teeth, denture status, occlusal balance, and cognitive function. Results of the present study revealed objectively measurable indications are suitable for chewing ability assessment and correlated with cognitive function.
Highlights
The world is aging as the economic and medical growth increased the life expectancy and decreased the birth rate [1]
The purpose of this study was to check the chewing ability of the elderly through the number of remaining teeth, the use of dentures and occlusions balances, the visual inspection and total color change of masticatory performance evaluating gum, and the occlusal status identified through oral examination in the elderly people over 65 years old who live in urban and rural areas, and to identify a correlation with the cognitive function through a powerful dementia screening tool, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
In terms of the number of remaining teeth which, was a variable related to chewing ability, 76 (13.5%) participants were edentulous, 125 (22.2%) had 1 to 9 teeth, 118 (21.0%)
Summary
The world is aging as the economic and medical growth increased the life expectancy and decreased the birth rate [1]. Report in 2019, the population of people over the age of 65 across the world is 703 million which accounts for 9% of the total population, and it is reported that the population will continue increasing to 16% by 2050 in which one out of six people will be the elderly [2]. 15.1% of the population in 2019, and it is predicted to be 24.7% in 2030 which will indicate the beginning of super-aged society at an unprecedented speed in the world [3]. The socio-economic burden is expected to increase due to the decrease in the producing population and increase in the elderly support cost, and the economic growth.
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