Title:Effects of the Co-occurrence of Diabetes Mellitus and Tooth Loss on Cognitive
Function
Volume: 18
Issue: 13
Author(s): Huabin Luo, Chenxin Tan, Samrachana Adhikari, Brenda L. Plassman, Angela R. Kamer, Frank A. Sloan, Mark D. Schwartz, Xiang Qi and Bei Wu*
Affiliation:
- Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York,United States
Keywords:
Cognitive function, diabetes, tooth loss, effects of co-occurrence, population, dementia.
Abstract: Objective:Both diabetes mellitus (DM) and poor oral health are common chronic conditions
and risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia among older adults. This study
assessed the effects of DM and complete tooth loss (TL) on cognitive function, accounting for their
interactions.
Methods: Longitudinal data were obtained from the 2006, 2012, and 2018 waves of the Health and
Retirement Study. This cohort study included 7,805 respondents aged 65 years or older with
18,331 person-year observations. DM and complete TL were self-reported. Cognitive function was
measured by the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. Random-effect regressions were used
to test the associations, overall and stratified by sex.
Results:Compared with older adults without neither DM nor complete TL, those with both conditions
(b = -1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.68, -1.02), with complete TL alone (b = -0.67,
95% CI: -0.88, -0.45), or with DM alone (b = -0.40, 95% CI: -0.59, -0.22), had lower cognitive
scores. The impact of having both conditions was significantly greater than that of having DM
alone (p < .001) or complete TL alone (p = 0.001). Sex-stratified analyses showed the effects were
similar in males and females, except having DM alone was not significant in males.
Conclusion: The co-occurrence of DM and complete TL poses an additive risk for cognition.
Healthcare and family-care providers should pay attention to the cognitive health of patients with
both DM and complete TL. Continued efforts are needed to improve older adults’ access to dental
care, especially for individuals with DM.
