Cognitive function and oral health-related quality of life in older adults

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the relationship between cognitive function and self-reported oral health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in community-dwelling older adults.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Community in West Virginia.

Participants: Two hundred twenty-six community-dwelling older adults.

Measurements: Oral HRQoL was measured using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) (range 12-60), and cognitive function was assessed using a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. Dental professionals performed oral health examinations.

Results: Participants with normal cognitive function had higher GOHAI total scores (mean 55.1), indicating better oral HRQoL, than participants with cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND) (mean 52.3) and mild dementia (mean 51.0). The difference remained significant after controlling for sociodemographic, health status, comorbidity, and clinical dental status covariates.

Conclusion: Oral HRQoL, as measured using the GOHAI, was better in participants with normal cognitive function than in those with CIND of mild dementia in the population studied.

Keywords: cognition; oral health; quality of life.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: This project was supported by NIH/NIDCR (R21DE016970, PI: Bei Wu). The authors have no financial or any other kind of personal conflicts with this paper.

© 2013, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2013, The American Geriatrics Society.