Value of Oral Health Assessments for Older People with Memory Complaints Visiting a Memory Clinic for a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment: A Cross-Sectional Study

The risk of memory complaints and cognitive decline increases with age, leading to many older adults being referred to memory clinics for cognitive screening including a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). Although CGA covers medical, cognitive and social domains, it commonly omits an assessment of oral health, despite evidence linking poor oral health to cognitive impairment and reduced quality of life. This study assessed the value of incorporating an oral health assessment into the CGA and explored differences in oral health between patients with and without dementia. Patients with memory complaints attending a memory clinic between April 2022 and May 2025 were asked to undergo an oral health assessment and complete an oral health questionnaire alongside the CGA. Patients unable to cooperate or incapacitated to consent were excluded. In total, 144 participants were included. The mean age was 73.7 years; 59.7% were male. Most participants had natural dentition (75%), and most had carious lesions (93.5%) and periodontal pockets (97.3%). Among denture wearers, denture-related problems were common (61.7%). No differences in oral health were observed between patients with and without dementia. All participants had at least one oral health problem, regardless of whether or not they had dementia. Integrating structured oral health assessments into the CGA therefor has value as it offers opportunities for early detection, intervention, and prevention for further decline in overall and oral health.