Eating Mediterranean Diet Lowers Hip Fracture Risk in Women (Video)
Eating Mediterranean Diet Lowers Hip Fracture Risk in Women (Video)
Depression, Diabetes Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia
Depression, Diabetes Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia
Is There a Link Between Oral Health and the Rate of Cognitive Decline?
Is There a Link Between Oral Health and the Rate of Cognitive Decline?
Better oral hygiene and regular dental visits may play a role in slowing cognitive decline as people age, although evidence is not definitive enough to suggest that one causes the other. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, come from the first systematic review of studies focused on oral health and cognition.
“Clinical evidence suggests that the frequency of oral health problems increases significantly in cognitively impaired older people, particularly those with dementia,” said Bei Wu, PhD, of Duke University’s School of Nursing in Durham, NC. “In addition, many of the factors associated with poor oral health—such as poor nutrition and systemic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease—are also associated with poor cognitive function.
Some studies found that oral health measures such as the number of teeth, the number of cavities, and the presence of periodontal disease (also known as “gum disease”) were associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline or dementia, while others studies were unable to confirm any association.
“There is not enough evidence to date to conclude that a causal association exists between cognitive function and oral health,” said Dr. Wu.
Bottom line – dental issues can be a systemic cause of health issues. Take care of your oral health.
Our Friday Song of the Week – This Land is Your Land
Our Friday Song of the Week – This Land is Your Land
Depression, Diabetes Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia
Depression, Diabetes Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia
People with depression and/or type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk for dementia and that risk is even greater among individuals diagnosed with both, according to an article published by JAMA Psychiatry.
As many as 20 percent of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus also have depression.
Dimitry Davydow, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, and coauthors examined the risk among individuals with depression, type 2 diabetes or both compared with individuals with neither condition in a group of more than 2.4 million Danish citizens, who were 50 and older and free from dementia from 2007 through 2013.
Overall, 19.4 percent of individuals in the group had a diagnosis of depression (477,133 individuals), 9.1 percent had type 2 diabetes (223,174 individuals), and 3.9 percent (95,691 individuals) had diagnoses of both diabetes and depression. The average age at initial diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was 63.1 years old and the average age at initial diagnosis of depression was 58.5 years old.
The authors found that during the study period, 2.4 percent of individuals (59,663 people) developed dementia and the average age at diagnosis was nearly 81 years. Of those individuals, 15,729 people (26.4 percent) had depression alone and 6,466 (10.8 percent) had type 2 diabetes alone, while 4,022 (6.7 percent) had both conditions.
Diabetes alone was associated with a 20 percent greater risk for dementia and depression alone was associated with an 83 percent greater risk, while having both depression and type 2 diabetes was associated with a 117 percent greater risk. The risk for dementia appeared to be even greater among those study participants younger than 65.
