Here is one way to keep your thinking as good as it was – just ensure regular flossing , brushing and timely consultation with the dentist.
During a study, researchers found that adults over 60 years, having the highest or lowest levels of gum disease-causing pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis, ran a three fold risk of a dip in thinking skills demonstrated in recalling a three word sequence.Dr. James M. Noble of Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City and colleagues during their study found that those adults who had elevated levels of this pathogen were twice likely to fail three-digit reverse subtraction tests.
The findings are based on more than 2300 men and women who were tested for periodontitis and tool many thinking skills tests.
The study revealed that 5.7 percent of the adults had difficulty completing certain memory tasks and 6.5 percent did not clear reverse subtraction tests. Those with the highest pathogen levels were most likely to fare poorly in these tests.
The research is published in the current issue of The Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry.
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