The Link Between Alzheimer’s and Gum Disease

Oral health problems have been linked to or signs of significant health problems. A recent study has added one more condition the list… Alzheimer’s. This is, once again, why we stress good oral hygiene for everyone, including seniors. This is also why it is important for children to keep an eye on their parents and their oral hygiene routine as they get older and may struggle with this on their own.

Doctors St. John Crean and Sim K. Singhroa (University of Central Lankshire) studied brain matter of individuals suffering from dementia as well as those without. While the study sample was small, 20 patients in all, the results were rather alarming.

Of the ten patients examined that died with dementia, four of them had bacteria lipopolysaccharides present (the bacteria responsible for one form of gum disease). What caused the concern is that none of the patients without dementia had this present.

Bacteria in the gums can enter the bloodstream due to normal activities. Simply brushing teeth or chewing can make this happen. Once the bacteria is in the bloodstream, it can travel to different parts of the body, causing a variety of problems. In the cases examined in the study, it may very well have been the cause of the dementia.

According to the study, the bacteria in these cases reached the brain and triggered a response by the immune system. In this case, the response was to kill brain cells. Sadly, their own body defense mechanisms were at the root of the problem.

Dr. Crean stated, “This new research indicates a possible association between gum disease and individuals who may be susceptible to developing Alzheimer’s disease, if exposed to the appropriate trigger. Research currently underway at UCLan is playing an active role in exploring this link, but it remains to be proven whether poor dental hygiene can lead to dementia in healthy people, which obviously could have significant implications for the population as a whole. It is also likely that these bacteria could make the existing condition worse.”

Tooth loss and gum disease have been linked to dementia before in seniors. In those studies, the lack of chewing was believed to be the cause of the problem. These two studies together make it obvious just how important oral care for seniors is.

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