Is Periodontitis a Risk Factor for Cognitive Impairment and Dementia? A Case-Control Study

• José A ^[2] ; Ines ^[3] ; Cristobal ^[1] ; Francisco ^[4] ; Juan ^[5] ; Rosa ^[6] ; J. S ^[7] ; M. A ^[8] ; Rocío ^[9] ; Manuel ^[10]
  1. [1] Canal de Experiencias Hidrodinámicas de El Pardo

     Canal de Experiencias Hidrodinámicas de El Pardo

     Madrid, España

     
  2. [2] Gil-Montoya
  3. [3] Sanchez-Lara
  4. [4] Fornieles
  5. [5] Montes
  6. [6] Vilchez
  7. [7] Burgos
  8. [8] Gonzalez-Moles
  9. [9] Barrios
  10. [10] Bravo

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• Localización: Journal of periodontology, ISSN 0022-3492, Vol. 86, Nº. 2, 2015, págs. 244-253
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Background: Dementia is a multi-etiologic syndrome characterized by multiple cognitive deficits but not always by the presence of cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment is associated with multiple non-modifiable risk factors but few modifiable factors. Epidemiologic studies have shown an association between periodontitis, a potentially modifiable risk factor, and cognitive impairment. The objective of this study is to determine whether clinical periodontitis is associated with the diagnosis of cognitive impairment/dementia after controlling for known risk factors, including age, sex, and education level.

    Methods: A case-control study was conducted in Granada, Spain, in two groups of dentate individuals aged >50 years: 1) cases with a firm diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia of any type or severity and 2) controls with no subjective memory loss complaints and a score >30 in the Phototest cognitive test (screening test for cognitive impairment). Periodontitis was evaluated by measuring tooth loss, plaque and bleeding indexes, probing depths, and clinical attachment loss (AL).

    Results: The study included 409 dentate adults, 180 with cognitive impairment and 229 without. A moderate and statistically significant association was observed between AL and cognitive impairment after controlling for age, sex, education level, oral hygiene habits, and hyperlipidemia (P = 0.049). No significant association was found between tooth loss and cognitive impairment.

    Conclusion: Periodontitis appears to be associated with cognitive impairment after controlling for confounders such as age, sex, and education level.