Periodontal Therapy Effects On Elderly Cognition

To assess the impact of basic periodontal treatment on salivary interleukin-6 (IL-6) and amyloid-β 42 (Aβ-42) levels, periodontal health, and cognitive function in elderly patients with stage III periodontitis. Twenty elderly patients with stage III periodontitis underwent periodontal initial therapy. Periodontal parameters (probing depth, gingival margin position, attachment loss, Simplified Oral Hygiene Index), cognitive function scores (CERAD Immediate/Delayed Recall, Animal Fluency, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Mini-Mental State Examination), and salivary IL-6 and Aβ-42 levels were measured at baseline (T0), 1 month (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-treatment. Statistical analyses included repeated measures ANOVA, Friedman test, and paired t-tests. Periodontal health indicators significantly improved at T1, T2, and T3 compared to T0 (P<0.05), but plateaued after T1 (P>0.05). Cognitive function scores also improved significantly at T1, T2, and T3, with Digit Symbol Substitution Test scores showing continuous improvement. Salivary IL-6 and Aβ-42 levels decreased significantly at T1 compared to T0 (P<0.05), indicating early regulatory effects on inflammatory and neurodegenerative biomarkers. Periodontal initial therapy significantly reduced salivary IL-6 and Aβ-42 levels, improved periodontal health, and enhanced cognitive function in elderly stage III periodontitis patients. These findings suggest that periodontal therapy may benefit both oral and cognitive health through IL-6/Aβ-42 pathway regulation.