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

开发了65岁及以上老年人的脑部MRI和口腔状况数据库。在脑磁共振成像（MRI）上，根据Fazekas分类法对痴呆的病因--脑白色病变（WML）进行分级，然后分析WML与口腔状况的关系。结果表明，上颌牙，特别是门牙的数量与WML的等级之间存在显著的相关性。然而，下牙的数量与WML之间没有关系。对于重复MRI检查的患者，WML的进展与口腔状况的恶化之间没有显著关系。

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.