Accelerated biological aging mediates the association between periodontal disease and cognitive function in older adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Periodontitis is a prevalent chronic inflammatory gum disease in older adults and has been linked to cognitive decline, but underlying mechanisms are unclear. The geroscience hypothesis provides a framework for this link, positing that fundamental aging processes (eg, chronic inflammation) drive multiple age-related diseases. We aimed to determine whether accelerated biological aging mediates the association between periodontal disease and cognitive function in older adults.

Research design and methods

Data were analyzed from 1950 adults aged ≥60 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002. Periodontal status was clinically assessed (mean clinical attachment loss [CAL], periodontal probing depth [PD], and periodontitis de

SUBMITTER: Qi X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12517742 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature