People with gum disease may have an increased risk of dementia, according to a new study.
Scientists have taken samples of cerebrospinal fluid – which surrounds the brain and spinal cord – and performed bacterial swabs on the gums of volunteers.
It has been revealed that people with poor oral health also have higher beta levels of amyloids, a dangerous protein found in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers.
Gum disease is a common cause of causes, with poor oral hygiene, stress, age and smoking, all of which increase the risk.
According to the NHS, the best way to prevent and treat gum disease is a good cleaning program, including brushing teeth twice a day for two minutes, with a good toothpaste, floss and regular visits to the dentist.
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Gum disease is a common cause of causes, with poor oral hygiene, stress, age and smoking, all of which increase the risk. People with the condition are at risk of dementia, a study claims
Beta-amyloid proteins clump together in the brain and form plaque that surrounds nerve cells, inhibiting brain function and leading to cognitive decline.
However, although a strong link between protein and dementia has been established, exactly how beta-amyloid causes the disease is only partially understood.
One leading theory is that proinflammatory diseases, such as gum disease, prevent the body from flushing out any amyloid from the brain.
To study the connection, U.S. scientists took gum swabs and cerebrospinal fluid samples from 48 healthy volunteers, all older than 65.
People in this age group are at increased risk for both dementia and gum disease, while 70 percent of 65-year-olds suffer from the oral condition.
Scientists have taken samples of cerebrospinal fluid – which surrounds the brain and spinal cord – and performed bacterial swabs on healthy volunteers. It has been revealed that people with poor oral health also have higher beta levels of amyloid, a protein found in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers.
Bacterial balance for all 48 people was compared with levels of beta-amyloid and tau, another protein known to occur in dementia patients.
Scientists have determined the level of ‘good’ bacteria, such as Corynebacterium and Actinomyces, and compared it with the presence of ‘bad’ bacteria, including Prevotella and Porphyromonas.
Data show that individuals with more good bacteria than bad bacteria in their gums had lower levels of amyloid in their cerebrospinal fluid, indicating that they were less at risk for dementia.
“To our knowledge, this is the first study to show an association between the unbalanced bacterial community found under the gums and a biomarker of Alzheimer’s cerebrospinal fluid in cognitively normal older adults,” says Dr. Angela Kamer of the New York University College of Dentistry and the lead author of the study.
‘The mouth is home to both harmful bacteria that promote inflammation and healthy, protective bacteria.
“We have found that evidence for amyloid in the brain is associated with increased harmful and reduced beneficial bacteria.”
The researchers speculate that many healthy bacteria in a person’s mouth can help fight inflammation and protect against Alzheimer’s.
“Our results show the importance of the overall oral microbiome – not only the role of ‘bad’ bacteria, but also ‘good’ bacteria – in modulating amyloid levels,” said Dr Kamer.
“These findings suggest that multiple oral bacteria are involved in the expression of amyloid lesions.”
Researchers found no evidence of tau proteins in the samples taken from the participants, even if someone had high amyloid levels.
As a result, they can not say whether tau lesions will develop in people with high amyloid levels, or that they are in fact continuing to develop Alzheimer’s.
The researchers are now conducting a clinical trial to investigate whether improving gum health with deep cleansing can alter the amyloid of the brain and prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
The study was published in Alzheimer & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring.