According to a new study, people with gum disease may be at increased risk of dementia.
The scientists took samples of cerebrospinal fluid – which surrounds the brain and spinal cord – and performed bacterial swabs on the volunteers’ gums.
It revealed that people with poor oral health also have higher beta levels of amyloid, a dangerous protein found in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers.
Gum disease is a common condition that has a number of causes, with poor oral hygiene, stress, age and smoking, all factors that increase a person’s risk.
The best way to prevent and treat gum disease, according to the NHS, is a good cleaning regimen, including brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes, using a good toothpaste, flossing and regular visits to the dentist. .
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Gum disease is a common condition that has a number of causes, with poor oral hygiene, stress, age and smoking, all factors that increase a person’s risk. People with this condition may be more at risk for dementia, according to a study
Amyloid beta proteins clump together in the brain and form plaques that surround nerve cells, inhibiting brain function and leading to cognitive decline.
But although a strong link has been established between protein and dementia, exactly how beta amyloid causes the disease remains only partially understood.
One main theory is that proinflammatory diseases, such as gum disease, prevent the body from removing any amyloid from the brain.
To study the connection, American scientists took rubber swabs and cerebrospinal fluid samples from 48 healthy volunteers, all over the age of 65.
People in this age group have an increased risk of both dementia and gum disease, with 70% of people over the age of 65 suffering from oral disease.
The scientists took samples of cerebrospinal fluid – which surrounds the brain and spinal cord – and performed bacterial swabs on healthy volunteers. It revealed that people with poor oral health also have higher beta levels of amyloid, a protein found in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers.
The balance of bacteria for all 48 people was compared with the levels of beta amyloid and tau, another protein that is known to be present in patients with dementia.
Scientists have determined the level of “good” bacteria, such as Corynebacterium and Actinomyces, and compared it to the presence of “bad” bacteria, including Prevotella and Porphyromonas.
The data show that individuals with more good bacteria than bad bacteria in their gums had lower levels of amyloid in the cerebrospinal fluid, indicating that they are less at risk for dementia.
“To our knowledge, this is the first study to show an association between the unbalanced bacterial community found below the gingival line and a biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease cerebrospinal fluid in cognitively elderly adults,” said Dr. Angela Kamer of New York. University College of Dentistry the lead author of the study.
“The mouth harbors both harmful bacteria that promote inflammation and healthy and protective bacteria.
We found that having evidence for brain amyloid was associated with an increase in harmful and low beneficial bacteria.
Researchers speculate that having a lot of healthy bacteria in a person’s mouth can help fight inflammation and protect against Alzheimer’s.
“Our results show the importance of the general 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.
The researchers found no evidence of your protein in samples taken from participants, even when a person had high levels of amyloid.
As a result, they cannot tell if your lesions will develop in people with high levels of amyloid or if they will continue to develop Alzheimer’s.
Researchers are now conducting a clinical study to investigate whether improving gum health with deep cleansing can alter the amyloid of the brain and prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
The study is published in Alzheimer’s and dementia: diagnosis, evaluation and monitoring of diseases.