Unraveling the cognitive implications among individuals with co-occurring chronic periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES

Chronic periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are associated with cognitive decline when examined individually. To gain deeper insight into the combined effects of these conditions on cognitive decline, the present study aimed to examine the cognitive status of individuals with co-occurring T2DM and chronic periodontitis.

METHODS

We recruited 220 participants categorized into four groups: Group I, healthy subjects; Group II, individuals with chronic periodontitis; Group III, individuals with T2DM; and Group IV, individuals with both T2DM and chronic periodontitis. Medical histories were recorded for all participants, followed by periodontal examination and evaluation of cognitive status using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale. Finger dexterity was assessed using the nine-hole peg test.

RESULTS

A statistically significant increase in the proportion of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was observed between groups I and IV (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that, among the parameters assessed in this study, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) was significant for age, finger dexterity scores, and co-occurrence of T2DM and periodontitis.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study suggest that the co-occurrence of chronic periodontitis and T2DM can have a detrimental effect on the cognitive abilities of an individual. Subsequent research should include longitudinal monitoring of the cognitive status in patients with concurrent conditions during treatment to gain deeper prognostic insights into the relationship between these co-occurring conditions and cognitive decline.