Severity of Dementia Is Associated with Increased Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area: Home Visit Survey of People with Cognitive Decline Living in the Community

Abstract

No studies have measured the periodontal inflamed surface area in people with dementia, although periodontal disease is a major health issue in this group. This study aimed to determine the relationship between dementia severity and periodontal inflamed surface area. An interdisciplinary team, including a dentist and psychiatrist, conducted an in-home survey of older people living in the community. This cross-sectional study was designed as part of a larger cohort study. The interdisciplinary team visited 198 individuals with cognitive decline. We surveyed the clinical dementia rating, periodontal inflamed surface area, number of teeth, and other health issues. We used multiple linear regression analysis to assess the 75 people who were able to take part in all the visits. Number of teeth (Beta = 0.479, p < 0.001), clinical dementia rating (Beta = 0.258, p = 0.013), and age (Beta = 0.250, p = 0.017) were independently associated with periodontal inflamed surface area after adjusting for biological sex, depression, diabetes, collagen disease, visual disorder, and osteoporosis medication. To make communities more dementia-friendly, we must protect older people with dementia from developing poor oral health, which may require home visits for dental assessment.

Keywords: Japan; community-dwelling; in-home survey; interdisciplinary team; older people; people living with dementia; periodontal inflamed surface area.

Figure 1

Study flow. The Takashimadaira Study included a 2016 epidemiological study (the first phase) to study the prevalence of dementia and a 2019 prognostic study (the second phase) among those at high risk of cognitive decline and social isolation.