Swedish scientists have determined seniors who have problems chewing food may be at greater risk of dementia and other age-related cognitive declines.
In a new report in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers with the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden noted older people face more problems with cognitive functions, such as memory, decision-making and problem solving. Past studies have suggested tooth loss may be a key culprit and that not having teeth raises the risk of cognitive problems and dementia, the researchers said.
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The reason: Having few or no teeth makes chewing difficult, which leads to a reduction in the blood flow to the brain.
The study findings were based on an analysis of chewing ability and cognitive function in 557 people aged 77 or older. Researchers found those who had difficulty chewing hard food such as apples had a significantly higher risk of developing cognitive impairments.
This was true regardless of age, gender, education and mental health problems.