Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41965638›Full record

SynthesisBMC oral health2026

Association of periodontitis and tooth loss with cognitive decline in the older adults - a systematic review.

Afsary Jahan Khan, Iffat Rahman, Hasina Akhtar Beg, Shahinur Akter, Rashida Haque, Dil Tahmina Monsur, Haslina Rani, Tuti Ningseh Mohd Dom

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC oral health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Afsary Jahan KhanDepartment of Family Oral Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia.
Iffat RahmanInstitute of Biological Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6025, Bangladesh.
Hasina Akhtar BegSchool of Business & Management, Lincoln University College (LUC), Jalan Stadium, Petaling Jaya, 47301, Malaysia.
Shahinur AkterFaculty of Preventive and Social Medicine, Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), Dhaka, Shahbag, 1000, Bangladesh.
Rashida HaqueUniversity of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Dil Tahmina MonsurThe School of Nursing, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Perth, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.
Haslina RaniDepartment of Family Oral Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia.
Tuti Ningseh Mohd DomDepartment of Family Oral Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia. tutinin@ukm.edu.my.ORCID 0000-0003-0575-8382

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe increasing global burden of dementia highlights the importance of identifying factors that may contribute to cognitive decline in later life. Growing evidence suggests that chronic oral conditions, particularly periodontitis (PD) and tooth loss, may be associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias. This study synthesizes current observational evidence on the association between PD, tooth loss, and cognitive impairment (CI) among older adults.

methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar for English-language studies published between 2010 and 2025. Cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort studies examining associations between PD, tooth loss, and CI were included. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines.

resultsThirteen studies met the inclusion criteria, with sample sizes ranging from 40 participants to over 500,000 individuals in large population-based cohorts. Most studies focused on adults aged ≥ 50 years, particularly those aged 60 years and above. Periodontal status, tooth loss, and cognitive outcomes were assessed using heterogeneous diagnostic methods. Most studies reported significant associations between PD or tooth loss and CI, dementia, or AD. Periodontal treatment appeared protective in several studies, although some associations weakened after adjustment for confounders.

conclusionsThe findings support PD and tooth loss are consistently associated with adverse cognitive outcomes, although causal relationships cannot be established due to methodological heterogeneity and residual confounding. Integrating oral health care into geriatric and dementia-prevention strategies may help preserve cognitive function and improve quality of life among older adults.

Indexed as

Cognitive DysfunctionPeriodontitisTooth LossAgedHumansAlzheimer’s disease.Cognitive impairmentDementiaOlder adults, PeriodontitisTooth loss

Identifiers

PMID41965638
PMCPMC13156852

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.