Oral frailty and the trajectories of psychological well-being and cognitive function: findings from the 12-year community-based Kashiwa study.

Baseline oral frailty was associated with lower subjective well-being over the 12-year follow-up period.

• Adjusted β = -0.47; 95% CI: -0.77 to -0.17 for the association between baseline oral frailty and WHO-Five Well-Being Index scores.
• Subjective well-being was measured using the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5).
• The study included 1679 community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years (mean age 72.7 ± 5.5 years, 49.5% female).
• Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to examine longitudinal associations across seven waves (2012-2024).

Baseline oral frailty was associated with higher depressive symptoms over the 12-year follow-up period.

• Adjusted β = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.19 for the association between baseline oral frailty and Geriatric Depression Scale-5 scores.
• Depressive symptoms were measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale-5 (GDS-5).
• Time-varying oral frailty showed consistent concurrent associations with depressive symptoms as well as subjective well-being.

Baseline oral frailty was associated with an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

• Adjusted risk ratio = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.38 for the association between baseline oral frailty and MCI.
• MCI was operationally defined as a screening-based outcome using an MMSE cut-off ≤27.
• Cognitive function was also assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
• Unlike psychological outcomes, only baseline (not time-varying) oral frailty was associated with increased MCI risk.

Time-varying oral frailty showed consistent concurrent associations with both subjective well-being and depressive symptoms across the study period.

• Both baseline and time-varying oral frailty were associated with psychological outcomes, suggesting sustained adverse effects on mental well-being.
• Time-varying oral frailty was not independently associated with MCI risk in the same manner as baseline oral frailty.
• All Oral Frailty 5-item checklist (OF-5) components and outcomes were measured across seven waves from 2012 to 2024.

The study used a 12-year prospective cohort design in community-dwelling older adults in Kashiwa, Japan to assess oral frailty and health trajectories.

• A total of 1679 participants with mean age 72.7 ± 5.5 years and 49.5% female were included.
• Oral frailty was assessed using items corresponding to the Oral Frailty 5-item checklist (OF-5).
• Seven measurement waves were conducted between 2012 and 2024.
• Outcomes included WHO-Five Well-Being Index, Geriatric Depression Scale-5, MMSE, and MCI.