We currently live in a society which continues to live longer and longer. Advances in medical science and treatment enable people to live well into their 80s and 90s. Sadly, nearly 13% of the population over the age of 65 suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Roughly 5.5 million Americans currently display signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Many patients with Alzheimer’s disease lose the ability to remember family members’ names, local directions, and days of the week.
Recent studies indicate that the presence of periodontal disease can increase a person’s risk for developing dementia. Studies also show that Alzheimer’s patients with gum disease suffer from decreased mental function. Your Lake Orion implant dentist, Dr. Brad Greenfield, discusses Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and dental implants.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease affects cognitive mental functions. Typically, this disease affects the elderly more than younger individuals, but diminished mental function can occur earlier in life. A recent NYU study measured the cognitive mental function of 152 Alzheimer’s patients. Signs of periodontal disease and inflammation appeared in half of the test subjects, while the half maintained optimal oral health.
The scientists conducted studies which tested the two groups’ ability to pair number sequences with symbol-digit pairs. This type of test appears frequently on adult IQ tests to measure cognitive ability. The study concluded that Alzheimer’s patients with periodontal disease tested significantly lower than their counterparts without periodontal disease.
Dental Implants and Alzheimer’s
Periodontal disease serves as the leading cause of adult tooth loss in America. Another recent study determined that maintaining chewing ability greatly impacted a person’s likelihood of maintaining mental functions later in life. Dental implants can reliable replace missing teeth. Patients can replace a single tooth or multiple teeth with dental implants.
Opting for dental implants enables patients to continue supplying their brain with sufficient blood flow. The role of blood flow impacts brain health greatly. If patients can still chew hard foods like apples, then their risk for developing dementia decreases significantly.
Schedule Your Visit
Interested in learning more about gum disease, chewing ability, and Alzheimer’s disease? At Lake Orion Family Dentistry, we can provide you with more information about these studies, as well as comprehensive dental care for the whole family. Contact our Lake Orion dental implant office by calling (248) 693-6213 to schedule an appointment today. We proudly serve families from Lake Orion, Clarkston, Auburn Hills, Oxford, and Rochester Hills, the 48360 zip code, as well as many other areas in Michigan.
