Choi S, et al. - In this retrospective study, researchers assessed the link between chronic periodontitis and vascular dementia in a cohort of 262,349 participants derived from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort. The researchers also investigated how this association could be modified by lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. Chronic periodontitis was diagnosed in participants from 2003 to 2004. Increased risk for overall dementia and Alzheimer's disease was found in relation to chronic periodontitis. Those with chronic periodontitis exhibited a tendency toward increased vascular dementia risk. Among never-smokers and those who exercised and did not consume alcohol, a stronger risk-increasing impact of chronic periodontitis on dementia was observed. Overall, a higher risk of developing dementia was related to chronic periodontitis.