Citation

Weijenberg RAF, Delwel S, Ho BV, van der Maarel-Wierink CD, Lobbezoo F. Gerodontology 2019; 36(1): 2-7.

Affiliation

Oral Kinesiology, Academisch Centrum Tandheelkunde Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Gerodontology Society and John Wiley & Sons, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/ger.12380

PMID

30480331

Abstract

This article explores the multifactorial relationship between mastication and cognition, with a focus on dementia. Older persons, especially those with dementia, are at great risk of suffering from oral health problems such as orofacial pain and loss of natural teeth. A possible explanation could be that the cognitive and motor impairments resulting from dementia cause a decrease in self-care and as such, a worsening of oral health. An alternative explanation is that cognition and oral health influence each other. Animal studies show that a decrease in masticatory activity, for example, due to a soft diet or loss of teeth, causes memory loss and neuronal degeneration. The relationship between mastication and cognition has also been researched in human studies, but a cause-effect relationship has not been proven. It is likely that multiple factors play a role in this relationship, such as self-care, nutrition, stress and pain.

© 2018 The Authors. Gerodontology published by Gerodontology Association and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Language: en