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Tooth loss, dementia and neuropathology in the Nun study
Stein PS, Desrosiers M, Donegan SJ, Yepes JF, Kryscio RJ.. Journal of the American Dental Association (1939), 2007-10-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Numerous studies have linked dementia to the subsequent deterioration of oral health. Few investigators, however, have examined oral disease as a potential risk factor in the development of dementia. The authors conducted a study to investigate a potential association between a history of oral disease and the development of dementia. Methods Longitudinal dental records supplemented data collected from 10 annual cognitive assessments of 144 Milwaukee participants in the Nun Study, a longitudinal study of aging and Alzheimer disease, who were 75 to 98 years old. Neuropathologic findings at autopsy were available for 118 participants who died. Results A low number of teeth increased the risk of higher prevalence and incidence of dementia. Conclusion Participants with the fewest teeth had the highest risk of prevalence and incidence of dementia. Clinical implications Edentulism or very few (one to nine) teeth may be predictors of dementia late in life.
Key findings
- Results A low number of teeth increased the risk of higher prevalence and incidence of dementia.
Why it matters
In 144 participants of the Nun Study, having few teeth was linked to a higher prevalence and incidence of dementia. The authors say that having no teeth or very few teeth may predict dementia late in life, but this does not show that tooth loss causes dementia or that dental treatment prevents it.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants118
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 59/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of the American Dental Association (1939)) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | The Journal of the American Dental Association: journal h-index 212 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2007 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 118 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 376 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 17.9 citations a year over 21 year(s) since 2007 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 15 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 40 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Richard J. Kryscio: h-index 88 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Kentucky: institution h-index 824 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 17908844) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 59 / 100 | — |
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Stein, P. S., Desrosiers, M., Donegan, S. J., Yepes, J. F., & Kryscio, R. J. (2007). Tooth loss, dementia and neuropathology in the Nun study. Journal of the American Dental Association (1939). https://doi.org/10.14219/jada.archive.2007.0046
Vancouver
Stein PS, Desrosiers M, Donegan SJ, Yepes JF, Kryscio RJ. Tooth loss, dementia and neuropathology in the Nun study. Journal of the American Dental Association (1939). 2007. doi:10.14219/jada.archive.2007.0046. PMID: 17908844.
BibTeX
@article{stein2007-17908844,
author = {Stein, P. S. and Desrosiers, M. and Donegan, S. J. and Yepes, J. F. and Kryscio, R. J.},
title = {{Tooth loss, dementia and neuropathology in the Nun study}},
journal = {Journal of the American Dental Association (1939)},
year = {2007},
doi = {10.14219/jada.archive.2007.0046},
pmid = {17908844},
url = {https://doi.org/10.14219/jada.archive.2007.0046}
}
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