瑞典研究人員日前發(fā)布聲明說,，其開展的一項研究證實,，老人咀嚼能力與認知功能相關，咀嚼能力較差的老人患癡呆癥的風險相對較高,。其研究成果發(fā)表在新一期《美國老年醫(yī)學會會刊》（Journal of American Geriatrics Society）上,。
這項研究由卡羅林斯卡醫(yī)學院衰老研究中心及該院口腔醫(yī)學部、瑞典卡爾斯塔德大學的研究人員共同完成,。研究報告指出,，科研人員以557名77歲以上的瑞典老人為研究對象，分析其牙齒脫落,、咀嚼能力和認知功能之間的關系,。結(jié)果顯示，吃蘋果等較硬食物時咀嚼能力較差的老人,，其認知功能退化風險較高,。
研究人員認為，咀嚼能力較差會導致腦部血液流動減弱,，這是與老年癡呆癥病因相關的因素之一,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04154.x
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Chewing Ability and Tooth Loss: Association with Cognitive Impairment in an Elderly Population Study
Duangjai Lexomboon DDS, PhD1,3,*, Mats Trulsson DDS, PhD2, Inger W?rdh DDS, PhD2, Marti G. Parker PhD3
Keywords:chewing ability;multiple tooth loss;cognitive impairment;elderly population Objectives To determine whether there is an association between tooth loss, chewing ability, and cognitive function in a general elderly population. Design Data from the Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old in 2002 were analyzed. Stepwise logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between cognitive function and tooth loss and chewing ability. Participants Five hundred fifty-seven persons who were nationally representative of the Swedish population aged 77 and older. Measurements Cognitive function was measured using the abridged version of the Mini-Mental State Examination. Information on dental status and chewing difficulty was obtained according to self-assessment. Results Persons with multiple tooth loss and persons with difficulty chewing hard food had significantly higher odds of cognitive impairment. When adjusted for sex, age, and education, the odds of cognitive impairment were not significantly different between persons with natural teeth and with multiple tooth loss, but the odds of impairment remained significantly higher for persons with chewing difficulty even when adjusted for sex, age, education, depression, and mental illness. Conclusion Sex, age, education, and certain illnesses do not explain the association between cognition and chewing ability. Whether elderly persons chew with natural teeth or prostheses may not contribute significantly to cognitive impairment as long as they have no chewing difficulty. The results add to the evidence of the association between chewing ability and cognitive impairment in elderly persons.
