School of Medicine Publications and Presentations

Edentulism Associates with Worse Cognitive Performance in Community-Dwelling Elders in Rural Ecuador: Results of the Atahualpa Project

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-14-2014

Abstract

Studies in industrialized nations suggest that severe edentulism correlates with cognitive impairment, but there is little information on this association in underserved populations. We conducted a community-based study to assess whether edentulism associates with cognitive impairment in elders living in rural Ecuador. Atahualpa residents aged ≥60 years were identified during a door-to-door census and evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Persons were classified into two groups according to whether they have severe edentulism (teeth) or not. In addition, a questionnaire allowed self-rating of oral health. A total of 274 persons (mean age 69.6 ± 7.7 years; 59 % women) were included. Persons with (n = 116) have significantly lower MoCA scores than those with ≥10 teeth (n = 158), after adjusting for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, depression and dementia (β = −1.06, p = 0.03). Self-rated poor oral health was more prevalent among persons with (p < 0.0001), but did not correlate with MoCA scores (good vs. poor, β = −0.89, p = 0.89). Severe edentulism is associated with poor cognitive performance in elders living in rural Ecuador. Public health campaigns directed to improve oral health may facilitate early recognition of persons with cognitive impairment in underserved populations.

Comments

Copyright © 2014, Springer Science Business Media New York

https://rdcu.be/cZlQI

Publication Title

Community Health

DOI

10.1007/s10900-014-9857-3

Academic Level

faculty

Mentor/PI Department

Office of Human Genetics

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