BCD hosts geriatric expert addressing link between tooth loss, dementia

(DALLAS) — The Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry will host a free workshop and lecture by Dr. Pamela Stein on Oct. 12 about her research on oral health, aging and dementia.

Dr. Stein’s latest paper on the topic will be the lead article in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association. Both events are open to the public.

An assistant professor of anatomy and neurobiology at the University of Kentucky dental and medical schools, Dr. Stein conducts research with the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging and the Nun Study, investigating oral disease as a potential risk factor for dementia.

The Nun Study is a longitudinal study of aging and Alzheimer’s disease funded by the National Institute on Aging. Participants are 678 American members of the School Sisters of Notre Dame religious congregation who are age 75 to 106.

The workshop, “Current Concepts in Geriatric Dentistry,” will be in Room 309-1 from 9-11 a.m. and discuss issues regarding clinical dental care for elderly patients. Conditions associated with “normal” aging, as well as common chronic conditions of the elderly, will be highlighted.

The lunch lecture, “Tooth Loss and Risk of Dementia: Findings from the Nun Study,” is from noon to 1 p.m. in Lecture Hall 6. Dr. Stein will discuss her findings from a recent investigation using longitudinal data from 10 annual cognitive assessments and dental records from the Nun Study archives.

HSC-BCD is located at 3302 Gaston Ave. in Dallas. For more information, contact Dr. William Wathen at (214) 828-8425.

Founded in 1905, Baylor College of Dentistry at Dallas is a component of the Texas A&M Health Science Center. HSC-BCD is a nationally recognized center for oral health sciences education, research, specialized patient care and continuing dental education.

The Texas A&M Health Science Center provides the state with health education, outreach and research. Its six components located in communities throughout Texas are Baylor College of Dentistry, the College of Medicine, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Institute of Biosciences and Technology, the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, and the School of Rural Public Health.