Gum disease linked to buildup of Alzheimer’s plaque formation

Despite the fact that the majority of people do not link oral disease to serious health issues, mounting evidence indicates that oral bacteria are a major contributor to systemic diseases like colon cancer and heart disease. The development of amyloid plaque, a defining feature of Alzheimer’s disease, has been linked to periodontal (gum) disease, according to recent research.

The researchers present evidence that periodontal disease can affect the microglial cells in the brain, which are in charge of protecting the brain from amyloid plaque. Their study, “Microglial cell response to experimental periodontal disease,” was published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation. This protein, known as a plaque, is connected to cell death and cognitive deterioration in Alzheimer’s patients. The study offers crucial information about how oral bacteria spreads.

Reference

Almarhoumi R, Alvarez C, Harris T, Tognoni CM, Paster BJ, Carreras I, Dedeoglu A, Kantarci A. Microglial cell response to experimental periodontal disease. J Neuroinflammation. 2023 Jun 14;20(1):142. doi: 10.1186/s12974-023-02821-x. PMID: 37316834; PMCID: PMC10265806.