diabetes and tooth loss can impair memory and attention

Diabetes and tooth loss contribute to faster deterioration of cognitive functions, including memory and attention, in old age, according to a new study by scientists from New York University (USA).

“Poor oral health, diabetes and cognitive decline are all linked, and we are starting to understand how they can influence and exacerbate each other,” said Bei Wu, lead author of the study.

The researchers analyzed data from 9,948 older adults aged 65 to 85 who were followed up for 12 years. Participants’ cognitive functions and health status were assessed every two years.

Implanted teeth.© unsplash.com

The results of the work of scientists published in Journal of Dental Researchshowed that older people with diabetes and complete tooth loss had the worst cognitive function compared with peers who did not suffer from either, or had only one disease. Participants with only diabetes experienced accelerated cognitive decline. The same was found in volunteers who lost all their teeth but did not have diabetes.

“The results highlight the importance of quality dental care and diabetes management for older adults. Health care providers should educate their patients regarding the link between oral health and cognitive function,” said Dr. Wu.

Previously, researchers from the University of Louisville and the University of Texas found that the IAA metabolite, produced by the Ruminococcaceae family of gut bacteria, promotes nerve cell death, leading to cognitive decline.