Oral Health for Healthy Cognitive Aging (SOECS)

Oral health is a critical factor of systemic health, although usually forgotten. A potential relation between cognitive deficits and oral diseases has been suggested. Adult cognitive dysfunctions have a high impact, not only economic, but social and in the family environment. Based on anatomical connectivity between the oral cavity and the central nervous system, the proposed study hypothesizes that masticatory function is a relevant determinant of human cognitive health. The restoration of canonical masticatory function and masticatory training could help to delay the development of such conditions. This project will also test if restoring phasic masticatory function improves the execution of cognitive tasks.

Objective 1: To determine volumetric and anatomical changes of subcortical structures and cortical areas involved in the masticatory circuit and superior cognitive functions. Objective 2: To determine the functional and brain connectivity changes associated with malocclusion and oral health. Objective 3: To correlate the anatomic and functional changes associated with malocclusion and oral health with the performance of cognitive tasks representative of those executed in daily life.

Group of patients that will be evaluated until they receive the dental occlusion restoration procedure.

Group of patients that will be evaluated until they receive the orthodontic treatment of malocclusion.

Placement of dental implants by surgical intervention followed, after a healing period of 2 months, by fabrication and installation of implant supported dental prosthesis

Inclusion Criteria: For Dental occlusion restoration groups: Need of, at least, two molar teeth replacement in the same quadrant. For Orthodontic treatment of malocclusion groups: Class I, II or III malocclusion. Exclusion Criteria: Psychoactive drug. Central nervous system depressor. Patients not willing or not able to consent.

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Elsig F, Schimmel M, Duvernay E, Giannelli SV, Graf CE, Carlier S, Herrmann FR, Michel JP, Gold G, Zekry D, Muller F. Tooth loss, chewing efficiency and cognitive impairment in geriatric patients. Gerodontology. 2015 Jun;32(2):149-56. doi: 10.1111/ger.12079. Epub 2013 Oct 16.

Gil-Montoya JA, Ponce G, Sanchez Lara I, Barrios R, Llodra JC, Bravo M. Association of the oral health impact profile with malnutrition risk in Spanish elders. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2013 Nov-Dec;57(3):398-402. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2013.05.002. Epub 2013 Jun 10.