Tooth loss is associated with brain white matter change and silent infarction among adults without dementia and stroke

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science Vol. 28; no. 6; pp. 929 - 933
• Main Authors: Minn, Yang-Ki, Suk, Seung-Han, Park, Hyunyoung, Cheong, Jin-Sung, Yang, Hyunduk, Lee, Sungik, Do, Seung-Yeon, Kang, Ji-Sook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 01-06-2013; 대한의학회
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Alzheimer Disease - diagnosis; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dementia - pathology; Dementia - prevention & control; Diabetes Complications - diagnosis; Female; Humans; Hyperlipidemias - complications; Hypertension - complications; Interviews as Topic; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Original; Periodontal Diseases - complications; Periodontal Diseases - diagnosis; Predictive Value of Tests; Risk Factors; Stroke - pathology; Stroke - prevention & control; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tooth Loss; 의학일반; Tooth Loss; Health Promotion; Dental Caries; Periodontitis; Risk Factors; Tomography, X-ray Computed; Preventive Health Service; Alzheimer Disease; Leukoencephalopathy; Dementia
• ISSN: 1011-8934; 1598-6357
• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2013.28.6.929

Periodontal disease is a predictor of stroke and cognitive impairment. The association between the number of lost teeth (an indicator of periodontal disease) and silent infarcts and cerebral white matter changes on brain CT was investigated in community-dwelling adults without dementia or stroke. Dental examination and CT were performed in 438 stroke- and dementia-free subjects older than 50 yr (mean age, 63 ± 7.9 yr), who were recruited for an early health check-up program as part of the Prevention of Stroke and Dementia (PRESENT) project between 2009 and 2010. In unadjusted analyses, the odds ratio (OR) for silent cerebral infarcts and cerebral white matter changes for subjects with 6-10 and > 10 lost teeth was 2.3 (95% CI, 1.38-4.39; P = 0.006) and 4.2 (95% CI, 1.57-5.64; P < 0.001), respectively, as compared to subjects with 0-5 lost teeth. After adjustment for age, education, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and smoking, the ORs were 1.7 (95% CI, 1.08-3.69; P = 0.12) and 3.9 (95% CI, 1.27-5.02; P < 0.001), respectively. These findings suggest that severe tooth loss may be a predictor of silent cerebral infarcts and cerebral white matter changes in community-dwelling, stroke- and dementia-free adults.