Dementia: Patients with gum disease are 23% more likely to have memory theft disorder, study finds –

Going to the dentist can be a chore.

But one study suggests that regular checkups are really worth it, as they can help protect you from dementia.

Finnish researchers have found that people with gum disease and tooth loss are about one-fifth more likely to be affected by this brutal condition.

Experts have suggested that dental health “monitoring and management” may be the key to preventing this condition.

In the past decade, several studies have found a similar link between poor oral health and dementia.

It has caused some researchers to speculate that the condition may be caused by gum disease itself. The same bacteria that cause bleeding gums can reach the brain, which doctors believe can damage the organ.

But even with the new study, there’s no evidence that poor oral health definitely causes dementia. The Finnish study is purely observational.

The connection may actually occur for the opposite reason. Experts say that people in the early stages may forget to brush their teeth.

Around 900,000 people in the UK live with dementia. Charities say that figure is about seven times higher in the United States.

The latest research in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society gathered data from 47 previous studies that examined the link between cognitive decline or dementia and oral health. Most newspapers only looked at people over 65 and tracked their health for less than a decade.

Scholars from the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio reviewed papers on periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease.

This can lead to jaw loss, cavities under the teeth, and damage to the connective tissue that holds the teeth in place.

Plaque can be prevented by brushing your teeth before it turns into tartar, which is a hard, cementitious substance that can only be removed professionally.

Dr. Sam Asher and colleagues also reviewed articles on tooth loss as a result of severe gum disease.

They searched all available numbers and medical records of thousands of people to find the link.

People with gum disease and missing teeth were up to 23% more likely to experience cognitive decline or dementia, according to the analysis.

However, the team said the quality of the evidence was poor.

In the journal, the authors write: ‘From a clinical perspective, our findings highlight the importance of periodontal health monitoring and management in the context of dementia prevention.

“The available evidence is not yet sufficient to indicate clear ways of early identification of at-risk individuals and the most effective measures to prevent cognitive decline.”

WHAT IS DEMENTATION? The deadly disease that takes away the agony of your memories

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological disorders.

GLOBAL CARE

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (affecting the brain) that affect memory, thinking, and behavior.

There are many different types of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common.

Some people may have a combination of dementias.

Regardless of the type of diagnosis, each person experiences dementia in a unique way.

Dementia is a global problem, but it is more common in wealthier countries where people are more likely to live very old.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING?

The Alzheimer’s Association reports that there are more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK today. This figure is expected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting 50 to 75 percent of individuals diagnosed.

There are approximately 5.5 million Alzheimer’s patients in the United States. A similar percentage increase is expected in the coming years.

As a person ages, the risk of developing dementia also increases.

Diagnoses are improving, but it is believed that many people with dementia are still undiagnosed.

IS THERE A TREATMENT?

There is currently no cure for dementia.

But new drugs can slow progression, and the earlier they are detected, the more effective treatments are.

Source: Alzheimer’s Association