Oral microbiota associated with tooth loss and cognitive function in older adults: Evidence from NHANES - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #aging
- #cognitive-decline
- #oral-health
- Tooth loss in older adults is associated with cognitive decline, with moderate tooth loss linked to higher odds of low global cognition and poor performance on specific cognitive tests.
- Salivary microbiome analysis revealed 16 microbial genera associated with cognitive metrics, including Prevotellaceae_NA, Phocaeicola, and Lactobacillus.
- Three organic acid-producing genera (Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae_NA, and Leptotrichiaceae_NA) may mediate the relationship between tooth loss and cognitive outcomes, suggesting a potential microbial pathway.
- The study uses data from NHANES 2011-2012, involving 1,413 adults aged ≥60 years, with salivary microbiome data from a subsample of 661 participants.
- Findings highlight oral microbiota as a possible biological link between oral health and cognitive function, informing future research on aging and prevention strategies.