A Swedish study1 has established an association between chewing ability and the risk of dementia, with tooth loss and difficulty chewing hard foods increasing the odds of cognitive impairment.

A nationwide sample of 557 people aged 77 or older participated in the study measuring cognitive and masticatory function. Dental status and chewing ability was acquired through self-assessment and it was discovered that whilst the level of risk of cognitive impairment was not significantly different between participants with natural teeth or those with multiple tooth loss and dentures, the odds of impairment were significantly higher for those experiencing chewing difficulties. Even when taking into account gender, age, education and mental illness, the positive correlation between difficulty chewing and increased dementia risk remained unchanged.

One possible explanation behind these results is that less chewing leads to less blood flow to the brain, though further research is needed. In our ageing population, it is estimated that 820,000 people in the UK suffer from dementia, with 4.6 million new cases diagnosed per year worldwide. The evidence collected from this study could prove significant in the ongoing research into the aetiology of dementia and potential methods for slowing its progression.