One of the most significant problems in humans is the decline in memory function and learning ability throughout life. This can be due to various causes, such as normal aging, but also others, such as impaired masticatory function. This is explained in the scientific article published in the Mexican Journal of Neuroscience (Rev Mex Neuroci November-December, 2014; 15(6): 351-354), which can be downloaded as a PDF, by Dr. Elías Ernesto Aguirre-Siancas of the Physiology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, National University of San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
Traditionally, chewing has been understood as a primarily digestive function, being the first process food must undergo before being swallowed and processed in the digestive tract. However, it is now becoming clear that chewing is also very important not only for food intake but also for psychological, physical, and cognitive functions. Various studies conducted on animals have demonstrated that tooth loss or mandibular asymmetry causes a jaw imbalance, which, in the long term, ends up generating the loss of neurons in certain parts of the brain. People with temporomandibular disorders exhibit an asymmetry in the activity of the muscles involved in chewing, which leads to decreased activity in certain brain areas. This causes cognitive impairment. A study conducted in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology It was found that chewing activates the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which acts as a nerve growth factor, as well as a growth factor protein that aids in the survival and differentiation of existing neurons, enhances the growth and differentiation of new neurons, and strengthens synapses. However, This only occurs when the trigeminal nerve is activated symmetrically.
These studies indicate that oral hygiene is not only an aesthetic issue but also has repercussions at the brain level, as it can lead to significant cognitive decline. However, perhaps the most worrying finding is that recent research also demonstrates that chewing problems generate short-term changes in brain activity.
