Tooth loss mediates the association between smoking and an increased risk of dementia among older adults: The JAGES prospective cohort study

Abstract Aim Tooth loss has various causes; however, its cause‐specific effects on health outcomes remain unclear. This study evaluated whether the association between past/current smoking and risk of dementia was mediated by tooth loss. Materials and Methods This 9‐year‐follow‐up prospective cohort study targeted adults aged ≥65 years. Dementia incidence during 2013–2019, smoking status (never, past/current) in 2010 and the number of remaining teeth (≤19, ≥20) in 2013 were the outcome, exposure and mediator, respectively. We used causal mediation analysis to fit the Cox proportional hazards model and estimated the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the natural indirect effect (NIE) of smoking on dementia incidence through tooth loss and their mediated proportions. Results Among 32,986 participants (mean age 72.6 years [1 SD = 5.4]; men 48.4%), the dementia incidence during follow‐up was 2.11/100 person‐years. Tooth loss significantly mediated the association between past/current smoking and dementia incidence; the NIE of fewer remaining teeth for past/current smokers compared to never smokers was HR = 1.03 (95% CI: 1.02–1.05), and the mediated proportion was 18.0%. Conclusions Tooth loss significantly mediates the association between past/current smoking and an increased risk of dementia among older adults.