Is tooth loss a risk factor of dementia?- Development of a database for brain MRI

建立了65岁及以上老年人的脑MRI和口腔状况数据库。在脑磁共振成像(MRI)上，根据Fazekas分类对引起痴呆的脑白质病变(WMLs)进行分级，并分析WMLs与口腔状况的关系。结果表明，上颌牙数，尤其是前牙的个数与WMLs的等级有显著的相关性。然而，下颌牙的数量与WMLs之间没有关系。在反复接受MRI检查的患者中，WMLs的进展与口腔条件的恶化没有明显的关系。

A database of brain MRI and oral conditions in the elderly people aged 65 years and over was developed. On brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) that is the cause of dementia were graded according to Fazekas classification and then relationship between WMLs and oral conditions was analyzed. As a result, significant correlation between the number of upper teeth, especially frontal teeth, and the grades of WMLs was observed. However, there was no relation between the number of lower teeth and WMLs. For the patients who underwent repeated MRI examinations, there was no significant relation between the progress of WMLs and the deterioration of oral conditions.