tooth loss | Wellness Secrets of a SuperAger

Regular readers know that cognitive impairment has my total attention as three of my family members suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and/or plain dementia. While I have written a number of posts covering various aspects of cognition and cognitive impairment I confess surprise upon learning of a correlation between losing teeth and diminishing mental facilities.

The increase of cognitive impairment and its pathologic correlates, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, in aging populations is progressing worldwide and creating a significant burden on health systems. About 25 million people suffer from dementia worldwide, with an incidence of 4.6 million per year. According to follow-up studies, annualized rates of conversion from mild cognitive impairment to dementia range from 4% to 25%.

Deaths from Alzheimer’s increased 71 percent since 2000, and it remains the only cause of death that cannot be prevented, slowed or treated. In 2016 an estimated 700,000 people will die with Alzheimer’s, meaning they will die after having developed the disease, the Alzheimer’s Association reported.

Better insight into the nature and extent of the association between oral health and cognitive function is of great importance since it could lead to preventive interventions for cognitive performance. Therefore, the objective of this review was to systematically examine if tooth loss leads to cognitive impairment and its most prevalent pathologic correlate (dementia). Continue reading →

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As you can see from her photos, Senior Supermodel Oleda Baker is aging magnificently. I interviewed Oleda in December. She is a treasure trove of information on everything this blog stands for, namely healthy living and healthy aging, so I asked her if she would share some of her ideas with us. She has written 10 books on beauty and health. Her latest, written at the age of 75, Breaking the Age Barrier – Great Looks and Health at Every Age – was released in November 2010 and is available from Amazon or from her website www.oleda.com where she also sells her own line of health and beauty aids.

What Have 43 percent of American Adults Lost—That They Hated To Lose—Over Which They Had Complete Control—And That Was VERY Preventable?

The answer is their Teeth! Yes, it’s true, 43 percent of Americans have lost some or even all of their teeth by the time they’ve reached age 45. And, what a shame that is, because our teeth are really designed to last a lifetime, although that won’t happen automatically, without our own personal effort.

There’s nothing like a beautiful smile to impress people we meet or make us feel good about ourselves. And there’s no replacing a set of healthy teeth for chewing food or even speaking properly.

Dental cavities are declining in the U.S. because of fluoridation programs and better tooth care products.

Tooth loss is usually caused by the condition of the gums, known as periodontal disease, which is the loss of connective tissue and bone that support the teeth. It starts before you can see it, usually from improper care.
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