Tooth count was not linked to dementia in older Chinese adults
For adults with no teeth versus at least 20, the dementia hazard ratio was 1.12, with no clear difference between groups.
Limit: Baseline tooth counts do not capture changes in dentition during follow-up
In an observational cohort study, researchers analyzed 2008–2018 data from 7,941 dementia-free Chinese adults aged 65 and older. They compared dementia onset across four baseline tooth-count groups, accounting for demographic and lifestyle factors and limitations in everyday activities. Tooth count was not independently associated with dementia.
Denture use was linked to a lower dementia hazard, meaning the rate at which dementia developed during follow-up. The hazard ratio, a relative measure, was 0.78 for denture users compared with nonusers. Everyday functioning showed the strongest gradient: people with no limitations had a hazard ratio of 0.39 compared with those with at least two limitations. The findings held across additional analyses.
Why it matters
For dementia risk assessment in very old age, the authors suggested considering denture use and everyday functioning alongside tooth count.
Caveats
This observational study cannot establish that dentures reduced dementia risk. The findings concern dementia-free Chinese adults aged 65 and older, and the preprint has not been peer-reviewed.
The paper
Fudan University
Research Square, Oct 19, 2026, Open access, Preprint, not peer-reviewed
