ABSTRACT
The population of the elderly continues to increase globally, which includes Indonesia. Oral health is often poor in many elderly and has been associated with many health conditions, possibly due to infection. The aging process in itself also increases the vulnerability of elderly people to infections and is also associated with increased levels of interleukin (IL)-6. Stomatitis Aphthous and Gingivitis are well-known oral infection that seems to be mediated principally by the immune system and by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria that contain several components that can enhance the pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6. Recently, poor oral health has been associated with the risk of occurrence of cognitive impairment. However, the relation between stomatitis aphthous and gingivitis with cognitive impairment in the elderly is not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate salivary cytokines, interleukin (IL)-6, and their relation to cognitive impairment. A total of 133 respondents sample of those over 60 years old was collected in rural Borobudur in Central Java Indonesia. Each subject underwent detailed oral and dental examination, with a focus on oral infections in accordance with the Axell method. Medical examination and medical history were assessed by using standardized questions from the Cambridge Mental Disorder of the Elderly Examination (CAMDEX). Salivary IL-6 was determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed by use of descriptive statistics. A significant difference in salivary IL-6 for stomatitis aphthous was found (P < 0.05) as well as in respondents with gingivitis. Gingivitis was significantly associated with the occurrence of cognitive impairment (p<0.05). We might conclude that elevated salivary IL-6 levels for stomatitis aphthous and gingivitis showed higher levels but only Gingivitis is related to cognitive impairments. However, this was not maintained in regression analyses.
