Introduction:

aging is a process by which an individual undergoes physical, organic, psychological and cognitive changes. Chronic inflammation resulting in periodontitis has been marked as one of the current potential risk factors for mild cognitive impairment.

Objective:

to identify the association between periodontitis and mild cognitive impairment.

Methods:

an observational, analytical and retrospective study of cases and controls was carried out from January to July 2023, in the office no.3 belonging to the health area of the Teaching Polyclinic "Ramón López Peña" of the province of Santiago de Cuba. The study population consisted of 203 older adults living in this community during the aforementioned period. Thirty older adults were chosen by simple random sampling as cases, according to Petersen's criteria and with an Addenbrooke's cognitive test score of 84 or less. Three controls were selected for each case, 90 older adults with a score above 85 points on the assessment instrument.

Results:

a significant association was found between mild cognitive impairment and periodontitis (p < 0,05), presenting three times the risk of suffering the disease. Its advanced form was a cause of mild cognitive impairment in 36,6 % of the total cases.

Conclusions:

by means of this brief study, the association between periodontitis and mild cognitive impairment, given by chronic oral inflammation, was proved.

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