The association between oral health and mild cognitive impairment among Iranian older adults: A cross-sectional study from Ardakan Cohort Study on Aging (ACSA)

Introduction: Ensuring daily oral health is paramount in the prevention of oral diseases, such as cavities and periodontal diseases, particularly among at-risk populations, including older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia. This study investigated the association between oral health and MCI in the Iranian older adult population. Materials and methods: Data from 3368 participants in the Ardakan Cohort Study on Aging (ACSA) during the first wave (2020-2022) were utilized for cross-sectional analysis. Trained personnel administered questionnaires and conducted oral health assessments. MCI was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for literate individuals and the Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS) for illiterate individuals. Results: The overall prevalence of MCI among participants was 20.8 %. Univariate regression analysis indicated that the use of dentures, Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, missing teeth, filled teeth, and issues related to mastication function were significantly associated with MCI (p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding variables such as age, sex, education, smoking, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, anxiety, and depression, it was found that DMFT index (OR = 1.02; 95 % CI:1.01 to 1.04), missing teeth (OR = 1.02; 95 % CI:1.01 to 1.03), filled teeth (OR = 0.86; 95 % CI: 0.81 to 0.91) and complete dentures (OR = 1.59; 95 % CI:1.08 to 2.36) remained significantly associated with MCI (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that poor oral health was related to MCI among Iranian older adults. This highlights the critical need for heightened awareness and proactive management of oral health, given its far-reaching implications for physical, cognitive, and overall well-being.