- MEDIUM
- Research
- Tier 1
- Hard News
62% of older adults unaware of potential link between oral health, brain health: Delta Dental
- Source
- Becker's Dental + DSO Review
- Author
- Ariana Portalatin
- Originally at
- beckersdental.com(opens in a new tab)
Summary and scoring by The Bell Brief (Dr. Jennifer Bell) using the Drill-Down Protocol. Not the original publisher.
Why it matters for dental
Delta Dental survey shows most older adults do not know about a possible oral-brain health link; caregivers and dental providers want clearer guidance on cognitive decline and oral care.
Key points
- 01
Delta Dental commissioned Atomik Research to survey 1,000 adults 40 and older who care for an aging family member, 1,000 adults 65 and older, and 250 dental providers.
- 02
Only 38% of adults 65 and older had heard that bacteria from the mouth could travel to the brain and contribute to inflammation linked to cognitive decline.
- 03
82% of older adults said they would prioritize their oral health after learning about the possible connection, and 83% want more research on the relationship between oral bacteria and cognitive impairment.
- 04
Eighty-two percent of providers reported treating a patient experiencing cognitive decline in the past month, and 72% screen for cognitive changes in patient health histories.
Who should care
- Owner
- Associate
- Staff
- Academia / research
Read the original
Becker's Dental + DSO Review
Full reporting and any paywalled content live on beckersdental.com. We summarize and score; we do not republish.