Do You Want To Avoid Alzheimer’s? Take Care Of Your Mouth
Several investigations link infections that affect the gums with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s.
Last January, a study led by neurobiologist Robert Moir of Massachusetts General Hospital, affiliated with Harvard University, discovered the bacteria that cause periodontitis (infection of the gums) in the brains of people affected by Alzheimer’s. .
Robert Moir stated that the Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteria may not cause the disease, but he is sure that it can contribute significantly to its development, among other factors.
A bacteria in the mouth causes inflammation in the brain
According to Moir, who published the study in Science Advances, the appearance of beta-amyloid protein plaques in the brain of sick people can be a desperate response of the body to protect the organ against the invasion of bacteria.
A new study has been carried out by researchers from the University of Louisville (United States) and the Jagiellonian University in Krakow (Poland). The team, led by Dr. Jan Potempa, discovered how the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis and the toxins it generates (“gingipains”) travel to the brain and contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s.
Experimental treatment under study
Potempa proved that bacteria can travel from the mouth to the brain where it produces an inflammatory response. Researchers believe that an experimental drug called COR388 can block the action of toxins and stop the progression of Alzheimer’s. This strategy is considered to be more effective than antibiotics.
Also linked to rheumatoid arthritis
The same mechanism may be related to rheumatoid arthritis and so-called “aspiration pneumonias”, in which saliva or food debris reaching the lungs can cause an infection.
Therefore, poor oral health is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders. The P. gingivalis begins to infiltrate the gums during adolescence and one in five people under age 30 have low levels of bacteria in their gums.
A moderate presence of the bacteria does not seem to cause problems, but if its development is excessive it provokes an immune response with inflammation whose first symptoms are redness, swelling, bleeding and degeneration of the gum tissue.
Oral hygiene can prevent Alzheimer’s
The best way to prevent P. gingivalis from getting out of control is to brush and floss your teeth regularly and visit a dental hygienist at least once a year, according to Potempa.
“Oral hygiene is very important throughout our lives, not only to have a beautiful smile, but to reduce the risk of many serious diseases ,” said Jan Potempa.
