한국치위생학회

Relevance between cognitive function and oral health status in the elderly: Focusing on Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging

In-Ja Kim1,*   Hee-Jung Moon1   

Department of Dental hygiene, Yeoju Institute of Technology

Abstract

This study aimed to confirm the association between cognitive function and oral health status in the elderly. In this study, 5,794 respondents, aged 55 or older, who had participated in the 7th aging research panel survey were used. Statistical analyses were performed using a complex samples cross-tabulation analysis, complex samples general linear model, and a complex sample multinomial logistic regression analysis. After analyzing the cognitive function of the elderly according to their oral health conditions, it was found that suspicions of dementia (19.6%) and cognitive function decline (25.9%) were more common for those who wore dentures than for those who did not wear dentures (p<0.001). Compared to those who did not wear dentures, those who wore dentures were linked to a 1.665 times higher suspicion of dementia (p<0.001). In comparison, cognitive decline was 0.964 times lower when the number of natural teeth increased by 1, and it was 0.941 times lower when the oral health evaluation index for the elderly increased by 1 point (p<0.001). As a result of this study, it was confirmed that cognitive function and oral health status are related in the elderly. Therefore, systematic measures for oral health management and oral health promotion should be prepared in tandem with awareness of possible cognitive decline in the elderly.

Figures & Tables

Table 1. Cognitive function of the elderly according to the characteristics of study subjects    Unit:N(%)