Japanese researchers from Hiroshima University pinpointed a surprising element contributing to memory decline in older adults. As reported by the publication “Gazeta.Ru,” citing a paper in the scientific journal Archives of Oral Biology, tooth loss might directly hasten cognitive deterioration processes. Specialists reached this conclusion by examining the effect of masticatory function on brain operation in aging laboratory mice.
During the trial, the test subjects were split into several subgroups. One portion of the mice received standard chow, while another was kept on a reduced-protein diet. Furthermore, some specimens retained their molars, whereas others had them extracted. The observation outcomes proved quite illustrative.
Half a year later, it became evident that the absence of teeth was the primary cause of memory issues. The creatures deprived of their molars showed distinctly poorer scores in cognitive assessments, even when their nourishment was complete and identical to the control set’s diet. The study’s authors emphasized that the protein scarcity impacted the brain far less significantly, affecting only certain regions, whereas reduced chewing load induced substantial alterations in the hippocampus—the brain area responsible for the formation and storage of recollections.
Tissue analysis confirmed heightened inflammatory reactions and indications of nerve cell death in the animals with removed teeth. In the investigators’ view, vigorous food mastication serves a protective role for the brain, boosting neural activity and blood flow. This discovery suggests that timely dental prosthetics and preservation of chewing capability could become an effective and accessible strategy for preventing cognitive impairments in advanced age.
About the Author
