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Symposium

Social Research, Policy, and Practice

Integrating Oral Hygiene and Cognitive Health: Global Insights and Intergenerational Approaches

Friday, November 15, 2024
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM PST
Location: Room 3B
CE: 1.5

The symposium presents four studies investigating the intersection of oral health, cognitive functions, and healthcare accessibility among older adults in China and India. The first study employs a co-design approach to develop a school-based oral hygiene intervention that leverages intergenerational ties between youths and older adults to enhance oral health education. This initiative demonstrates a promising avenue for promoting healthy behaviors across generations, emphasizing family dynamics and resource allocation in the design of oral health interventions. The second review underscores the potential of regular toothbrushing as a simple yet effective strategy to mitigate cognitive decline and dementia risk. This meta-analysis illuminates the direct benefits of oral hygiene on cognitive functions, advocating for the inclusion of oral hygiene practices in daily routines to promote cognitive health. The third study finds significant correlations between cognitive decline and poor oral health using data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India, highlighting the urgent need for improved dental care accessibility and oral health education as preventive measures against cognitive impairment. Finally, the fourth study investigates into the dental care utilization patterns among older adults in Shanghai reveals a troublingly low engagement with dental services, exacerbated by socioeconomic disparities and insurance coverage limitations. The study calls for comprehensive reforms to extend dental care access and integrate it within broader health insurance schemes. Together, these studies shed light on the critical link between oral health and cognitive health and propose actionable strategies to improve public health outcomes through enhanced education, policy reform, and community-based interventions.

Oral Health Interest Group Sponsored Symposium

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the impact of intergenerational co-design approaches on developing effective school-based oral hygiene interventions that benefit both youths and older adults
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of regular oral hygiene practices, such as toothbrushing, in delaying cognitive decline and reducing dementia risk, incorporating findings from a comprehensive meta-analysis
  • Analyze the correlation between oral health and cognitive function in older adults, emphasizing the significance of dental care utilization on cognitive health based on studies from India and China

Presentations:

  • 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM PST
    Using Co-Design to Develop a School-Based Oral Hygiene Intervention Linking Youth and Older Adults

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Lingyi Shen, Undergraduate Student (she/her/hers) – Duke Kunshan University

  • 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM PST
    Association Between Oral Hygiene Behaviors and Cognitive Function

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Zheng Zhu, PhD, RN – New York University

  • 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM PST
    Cognitive Function and Oral Health Measures Among Older Adults in India: Evidence From the LASI, 2017–2018

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Uma Kelekar, PhD. (she/her/hers) – Marymount University

  • 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM PST
    Oral Symptoms, Type of Medical Insurance, and Dental Care Utilization Among Older Adults in Shanghai

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Xiaomin Qu, PhD – East China University of Political Science and Low