Association Between Mastication Pattern, Periodontal Condition, and Cognitive Condition—Investigation Using Large Database of Japanese Universal Healthcare System

The decline in oral health commonly occurs as a natural consequence of aging or due to various pathological factors. Tooth loss, which diminishes masticatory ability, has been associated with negative impacts on cognitive function. This observational study analyzed dental and medical records from Ja...

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Main Authors: Takahiko Shiba, Daisuke Sasaki, Juanna Xie, Chia-Yu Chen, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Shigemi Nagai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Big Data and Cognitive Computing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2504-2289/9/2/43
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author Takahiko Shiba
Daisuke Sasaki
Juanna Xie
Chia-Yu Chen
Hiroyuki Tanaka
Shigemi Nagai
author_facet Takahiko Shiba
Daisuke Sasaki
Juanna Xie
Chia-Yu Chen
Hiroyuki Tanaka
Shigemi Nagai
author_sort Takahiko Shiba
collection DOAJ
description The decline in oral health commonly occurs as a natural consequence of aging or due to various pathological factors. Tooth loss, which diminishes masticatory ability, has been associated with negative impacts on cognitive function. This observational study analyzed dental and medical records from Japan’s Universal Healthcare System (UHCS) national database to investigate the relationship between cognitive and oral disorders, focusing on periodontitis and decreased tooth-to-tooth contact between the maxillary and mandibular arches. A descriptive data analysis evaluated diagnostic codes for Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment alongside dental treatment records from 2013 to 2018. The odds ratios for cognitive impairment in patients with partial loss of natural tooth contact were 1.6663 (<i>p</i> < 0.05) for early elderly individuals (aged 65–75) and 1.5003 (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) for advanced elderly individuals (over 75). Periodontally compromised patients had higher odds, with ratios of 1.3936 (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) for early elderly individuals and 1.1888 (<i>p</i> < 0.00001) for advanced elderly individuals, compared to their periodontally healthy counterparts. These findings suggest a potential link between cognitive health, natural tooth contact preservation, and periodontitis, with the loss of natural tooth contacts having the most significant impact on cognitive function.
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spelling doaj-art-7e36f201ebbf4b4aa2db51b77909d61e2025-08-20T02:44:55ZengMDPI AGBig Data and Cognitive Computing2504-22892025-02-01924310.3390/bdcc9020043Association Between Mastication Pattern, Periodontal Condition, and Cognitive Condition—Investigation Using Large Database of Japanese Universal Healthcare SystemTakahiko Shiba0Daisuke Sasaki1Juanna Xie2Chia-Yu Chen3Hiroyuki Tanaka4Shigemi Nagai5Department of Periodontology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8549, JapanDepartment of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 020-8505, JapanDepartment of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterial Sciences, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02115, USADepartment of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02115, USANTT DATE Corporation, Tokyo 135-0061, JapanDepartment of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterial Sciences, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02115, USAThe decline in oral health commonly occurs as a natural consequence of aging or due to various pathological factors. Tooth loss, which diminishes masticatory ability, has been associated with negative impacts on cognitive function. This observational study analyzed dental and medical records from Japan’s Universal Healthcare System (UHCS) national database to investigate the relationship between cognitive and oral disorders, focusing on periodontitis and decreased tooth-to-tooth contact between the maxillary and mandibular arches. A descriptive data analysis evaluated diagnostic codes for Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment alongside dental treatment records from 2013 to 2018. The odds ratios for cognitive impairment in patients with partial loss of natural tooth contact were 1.6663 (<i>p</i> < 0.05) for early elderly individuals (aged 65–75) and 1.5003 (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) for advanced elderly individuals (over 75). Periodontally compromised patients had higher odds, with ratios of 1.3936 (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) for early elderly individuals and 1.1888 (<i>p</i> < 0.00001) for advanced elderly individuals, compared to their periodontally healthy counterparts. These findings suggest a potential link between cognitive health, natural tooth contact preservation, and periodontitis, with the loss of natural tooth contacts having the most significant impact on cognitive function.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-2289/9/2/43oral healthmasticationtooth lossdenturesperiodontitiscognitive disorders
spellingShingle Takahiko Shiba
Daisuke Sasaki
Juanna Xie
Chia-Yu Chen
Hiroyuki Tanaka
Shigemi Nagai
Association Between Mastication Pattern, Periodontal Condition, and Cognitive Condition—Investigation Using Large Database of Japanese Universal Healthcare System
Big Data and Cognitive Computing
oral health
mastication
tooth loss
dentures
periodontitis
cognitive disorders
title Association Between Mastication Pattern, Periodontal Condition, and Cognitive Condition—Investigation Using Large Database of Japanese Universal Healthcare System
title_full Association Between Mastication Pattern, Periodontal Condition, and Cognitive Condition—Investigation Using Large Database of Japanese Universal Healthcare System
title_fullStr Association Between Mastication Pattern, Periodontal Condition, and Cognitive Condition—Investigation Using Large Database of Japanese Universal Healthcare System
title_full_unstemmed Association Between Mastication Pattern, Periodontal Condition, and Cognitive Condition—Investigation Using Large Database of Japanese Universal Healthcare System
title_short Association Between Mastication Pattern, Periodontal Condition, and Cognitive Condition—Investigation Using Large Database of Japanese Universal Healthcare System
title_sort association between mastication pattern periodontal condition and cognitive condition investigation using large database of japanese universal healthcare system
topic oral health
mastication
tooth loss
dentures
periodontitis
cognitive disorders
url https://www.mdpi.com/2504-2289/9/2/43
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