Oral Health and Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Summary
In older adults, the integrity of oral structures and the preservation of chewing ability are emerging as key factors in maintaining cognitive health. Tooth loss, periodontal disease and diminished masticatory function can lead to systemic inflammation, nutritional imbalances and altered neural stimulation, each of which may accelerate neurodegenerative processes. Conversely, adequate occlusal contacts and oral rehabilitation have been linked to improved dietary diversity, reduced vascular risk and enhanced sensory feedback to brain regions critical for memory and executive function. At the population level, interventions that promote periodontal care, prosthetic restoration and regular dental assessments are therefore of growing importance in strategies to delay or mitigate age‐related cognitive decline.
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Oral Health and Cognitive Function in Older Adults publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in oral health and cognitive function in older adults across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Mastication: The process of chewing that breaks down food and provides sensory input to the brain.
Periodontitis: Chronic inflammation of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth, often leading to tooth loss.
Parahippocampal gyrus: A region in the medial temporal lobe involved in memory encoding and retrieval.
White matter hyperintensity: Lesions visible on MRI that reflect small‐vessel disease and are linked to cognitive decline.
Meta-analysis: A statistical method that combines results from multiple studies to derive an overall estimate of effect.
References
- Association Between Mastication Pattern, Periodontal Condition, and Cognitive Condition—Investigation Using Large Database of Japanese Universal Healthcare System. Big Data and Cognitive Computing (2025).
- Brain atrophy in normal older adult links tooth loss and diet changes to future cognitive decline. npj Aging (2024).
- Tooth loss as a risk factor for dementia: systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 observational studies. BMC Psychiatry (2018).
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