Oral health status among elderly patients with cognitive impairment and dementia in a dementia clinic
Keywords:
elderly, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, oral healthAbstract
Introduction: Thailand has entered a fully aged society, with the prevalence of dementia among the elderly increasing with age. The oral health of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia is an important public health concern. However, studies focusing on oral health issues in these groups in Thailand remain limited.
Objective: To assess and compare the oral health status of older adults with MCI and dementia who received care at the Dementia Clinic, Lampang Hospital.
Study Method: This retrospective study utilized medical data from electronic health records and oral health assessment forms of individuals aged 60 years and above who attended the Dementia Clinic at Lampang Hospital between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. Inclusion criteria were older adults aged 60 years and above who diagnosed by a physician with either mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia.
Results: A total of 184 older adults were included, with a mean age of 76.50±8 years. Of these, 58.15% were female and 41.85% were male. Twenty-four participants were diagnosed with MCI, and 160 with dementia. The mean number of remaining natural teeth was 18.33±10.61 in the MCI group and 17.27±9.57 in the dementia group. Older adults with dementia had a significantly higher prevalence of dental calculus compared to those with MCI (p-value=0.012). Furthermore, the dementia group showed a significantly higher proportion of individuals who did not brush their teeth regularly compared to the MCI group (p-value=0.033), although the majority in both groups reported brushing twice daily.
Conclusions: Older adults with dementia exhibited poorer oral health conditions than those with MCI, particularly with respect to increased calculus accumulation and inadequate oral hygiene behaviors such as infrequent tooth brushing. These findings highlight self-care limitations associated with cognitive decline.
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