Oral Health in Alzheimer's Disease: A Life-Course Perspective on Clinical Management and Caregiver Support.

AIM: To synthesize current evidence on oral health conditions in individuals with AD and to discuss stage-specific dental management strategies, including caregiver involvement, from a life-course perspective.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Scielo, and Web of Science using MeSH and free-text terms related to Alzheimer's disease, oral health, and caregivers, with no language or time restrictions.

RESULTS

Individuals with AD commonly present with periodontal disease, root caries, xerostomia, traumatic mucosal lesions, and prosthesis-related complications. The available evidence does not strongly support a bidirectional causal relationship; instead, poor oral health and AD appear to be cumulative conditions influenced by shared antecedent factors, such as biological aging and chronic inflammation. Functional dependence and behavioral symptoms further contribute to oral deterioration over time. Effective dental care therefore requires stage-adapted approaches, ranging from preventive and restorative interventions in early stages to palliative strategies focused on infection control and comfort in advanced disease.

CONCLUSION

Oral health care for individuals with AD should be grounded in a life-course and biopsychosocial framework, prioritizing realistic, stage-specific clinical management and structured caregiver support within interdisciplinary geriatric care.