Relationship between cerebral atrophy and number of present teeth in elderly individuals with cognitive decline
Relationship between cerebral atrophy and number of present teeth in elderly individuals with cognitive decline
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DOI：
10.1016/j.exger.2020.111189
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发表时间：
2021-02-01
影响因子：
3.9
通讯作者：
Naito, Toru
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Egashira, Rui;Umezaki, Yojiro;Naito, Toru
背景和目标：最近日本人口分布向老年人转移，这意味着在牙科诊所遇到痴呆症患者的机会正在增加。许多研究表明，随着痴呆症的进展，大脑体积沿着减少。虽然先前的研究已经报道了牙齿脱落或牙周炎与痴呆症发作之间的关系，但这种关联的病理机制尚未阐明。在这项研究中，我们的目的是研究口腔条件和脑萎缩之间的关系，并讨论如何充分处理与患者dementia.Participants和方法：这项横断面研究包括15名参与者进行了脑磁共振成像（MRI）。参与者年龄在60岁或以上，并表现出认知能力下降，包括阿尔茨海默病（AD）和轻度认知障碍（MCI），由神经科医生诊断。我们获得了有关口腔状况、生活方式、认知功能和脑萎缩的信息。认知功能评估采用简易精神状态检查（MMSE）。每个病人的MR图像进行了分析，使用基于体素的特定区域分析系统阿尔茨海默氏病（VSRAD），以提供一个定量测量的脑萎缩的程度。结果：研究人群包括4名男性和11名女性患者。平均年龄为75.9岁（SD 6.7），平均现有牙齿数为15.0（SD 11.1）。中位MMSE评分为25.6（SD 3.7）。全脑萎缩程度与现存牙数（rho =-0.72，p < 0.05）和每日运动习惯（rho =-0.66，p < 0.05）显著相关。保护牙齿以及养成定期锻炼的习惯可能对预防痴呆症的进展很重要。进一步的研究检查更大的研究人群和分析更多的因素是必要的。
Background and aim: Recent shifts in the distribution of Japan's population towards older ages, have meant that the chance of encountering patients with dementia in dental clinics is increasing. Many studies have shown that the brain volume decreases along with the progression of dementia. Although previous studies have reported a relationship between tooth loss or periodontitis and the onset of dementia, the pathological mechanisms underlying this association have not been elucidated. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between the oral condition and brain atrophy and to discuss how to adequately deal with patients with dementia.Participants and methods: This cross-sectional study included 15 participants who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The participants were 60 years or older and presented with cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), diagnosed by a neurologist. We obtained information on the oral condition, lifestyle, cognitive function, and brain atrophy. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). MR images of each patient were analyzed using the voxel-based specific regional analysis system for Alzheimer's disease (VSRAD) to provide a quantitative measure of the degree of brain atrophy.Results: The study population included 4 male and 11 female patients. The mean age and mean number of present teeth were 75.9 years (SD 6.7) and 15.0 (SD 11.1), respectively. The median MMSE score was 25.6 (SD 3.7). The degree of atrophy of the whole brain was significantly correlated with the number of present teeth (rho = -0.72, p < 0.05) and the presence of a daily exercise habit (rho = -0.66, p < 0.05).Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the number of present teeth could be an indicator of the progress of dementia. Preserving the teeth as well as the acquisition of a regular exercise habit might be important for preventing progression of dementia. Further research examining a larger study population and analyzing a greater number of factors is warranted.