@Article{info:doi/10.2196/68444,
author="Wei, Xindi
and Zhuang, Longfei
and Li, Yuan
and Shi, Junyu
and Yang, Yijie
and Lai, Hongchang
and Liu, Beilei",
title="Edentulousness and the Likelihood of Becoming a Centenarian: Longitudinal Observational Study",
journal="JMIR Aging",
year="2025",
month="Mar",
day="21",
volume="8",
pages="e68444",
keywords="public health; edentulous; oral-systemic disease; epidemiology; cohort studies",
abstract="Background: In recent decades, the global life expectancy has risen notably to approximately 73.5 years worldwide, coinciding with a rapid growth in the older adult population, which presents a significant public health challenge in promoting healthy aging and longevity. Objective: This study aimed to prospectively investigate the link between edentulousness and the likelihood of reaching centenarian status among individuals aged 80 years and older. Methods: Data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey were analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between edentulousness and the likelihood of becoming a centenarian. Demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and disease histories were adjusted as confounding factors. Several sensitivity analyses, including propensity score matching and 2-year lag analyses, were conducted to further assess the association between edentulousness and the likelihood of becoming a centenarian. The correlation between the number of natural teeth as a continuous variable and the likelihood of becoming a centenarian was evaluated as well. Results: The study included 4239 participants aged 80-100 years. After adjusting for all covariates, the likelihood for becoming a centenarian increased in the nonedentulous group compared to the edentulous group (odds ratio [OR] 1.384, 95{\%} CI 1.093‐1.751). The relationship persisted after propensity score matching analysis (OR 1.272, 95{\%} CI 1.037‐1.561). The association remained statistically significant after excluding participants with a follow-up duration of less than 2 years (OR 1.522, 95{\%} CI 1.083‐2.140; P=.02). Furthermore, a significant positive association between the number of natural teeth and the likelihood of becoming a centenarian was found after adjusting for all covariates (OR 1.022, 95{\%} CI 1.002‐1.042; P=.03), which aligned with the main results of the study. Conclusions: The findings revealed that the presence of natural teeth was linked to an increased probability of becoming a centenarian, underscoring the importance of maintaining oral health even in advanced age. ",
issn="2561-7605",
doi="10.2196/68444",
url="https://aging.jmir.org/2025/1/e68444",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/68444"
}