Investigation of Dental Attendance Rates and Oral Health in Individuals with Dementia Through the ECCO Project : A Research Protocol

Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that compromises individuals' ability to perform oral self-care as the condition advances, necessitating appropriate oral care tailored to the severity of dementia. We hypothesize that the severity of dementia is associated with oral health status but that regular dental visits can help prevent deterioration in oral health. The aim of this study is to clarify the association between the severity of dementia and dental problems from the perspective of dental visit frequency. This research will be conducted as an ancillary study within the “Medical-Dental Collaboration : Exploratory Research Project on the Correlation between Cognitive and Oral Function (ECCO).” A total of 120 individuals with Alzheimer's disease will be recruited from seven medical institutions. Dentists will conduct interviews with both the participants and their caregivers to assess whether they have a primary dental care provider and to determine the frequency of their dental visits. In addition, oral health will be evaluated using the Japanese version of the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT-J). A multivariable linear regression analysis will be performed using the OHAT-J score as the dependent variable, with dementia severity and frequency of dental visits as independent variables, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, household income, presence of a caregiver, and recruitment site. An interaction term between dementia severity and dental visit frequency will be included to examine potential moderating effects. The results of this study may clarify the dental needs of individuals with dementia and underscore the importance of support from dental professionals in the maintenance of oral health in this population.