Severe Periodontal Disease Independently Predicts PSCI

Background: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is common, affecting roughly half of patients after stroke and contributing to disability, recurrent stroke risk, and reduced quality of life. Inflammatory mechanisms have increasingly been implicated in PSCI, and periodontal disease (PD) has emerged as a potential systemic inflammatory contributor. Objective: To examine whether PD severity predicts PSCI in an analysis of the PREMIERS (Periodontal tReatment to Eliminate Minority InEquality and Rural disparities in Stroke) cohort. Design: Cross-sectional analysis. Participants: 280 patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack who had moderate to severe PD. Methods: Cognitive function was assessed within 90 days of the index event using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Severe PSCI was defined as a MoCA score of ≤21. PD severity was measured using the Periodontal Profile Classes system, and cerebral small vessel disease was assessed on MRI using Fazekas scale more...