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Tooth Loss Linked to Memory Loss in Old Age

by Kathy Jones on Jun 20 2013 8:43 PM

 Tooth Loss Linked to Memory Loss in Old Age
A new study published in the European Journal of Oral Sciences reports that losing your teeth as you get older could be responsible memory loss in old age.
The study was jointly conducted by researchers from universities in Sweden and Norway who followed 273 people between 55 and 80 years of age and who had an average number of 22 natural teeth with 70 percent of all missing teeth being molars. The researchers asked the participants to undergo a series of memory tests.

The researchers found that those who had more number of natural teeth were found to have on an average four percent better memory compared to those with least number of natural teeth.

“In line with the stated hypothesis, the number of natural teeth was positively associated with performance on episodic memory, recall as well as recognition. Alone, number of natural teeth could account for 20 percent of the variance in episodic recall, 15 percent of the variance in episodic recognition and 14 percent of the variance in semantic memory”, the researchers wrote in their report.


Source-Medindia


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