China is one of the countries with the highest population aging rate in the world, and the oral health of the elderly population has become increasing significant for the realization of healthy aging. Tooth loss is considered as the marker of oral disease burden. In recent years, a growing number of findings have suggested an association between tooth loss and cognitive decline. Also, given that cognitive function plays a crucial role in oral health, future researches should elucidate their bidirectional causal relationship, based on prospective cohort design that regularly monitors tooth loss and cognitive function. This article reviews the current research threads in terms of epidemiological evidences of the association, brain structure and function, and possible bidirectional associations and mechanisms, providing a theoretical basis for promoting healthy aging.
我国是世界上人口老龄化速度最快的国家之一，老年人群口腔健康对健康老龄化的实现显得越发重要。牙齿缺失被认为是口腔疾病负担的标志。近年来，越来越多的研究结果提示牙齿缺失与认知功能退化之间存在关联。同时，鉴于认知功能在口腔健康中的重要作用，未来研究应基于前瞻性队列设计，定期监测牙齿缺失与认知功能，阐明二者间的双向因果关系。本文对当前研究线索进行梳理，从两者关联的流行病学证据、脑结构与功能、可能的双向关联及机制等方面展开综述，为促进健康老龄化提供理论依据。.