Medical News Today reported that “a team of researchers from Tufts University has found a correlation between gum disease through the bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) and Alzheimer’s disease via a mouse study.” According to the article, “Scientists believe their findings may help reduce the progression of both periodontal disease and this form of dementia.” This was published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.
Medical Daily reports that bacteria in the mouth may “exacerbate symptoms of a neurological condition like Alzheimer’s disease” in two ways, according to Dr. Jake Jinkun Chen, the study’s lead author. “One, (it) generates inflammation both locally and systemically, which will affect the Alzheimer’s disease phenotype, as Alzheimer’s itself is an inflammatory disease,” he said. “Two, it migrates and penetrates to the brain to colonize there and secrete pathological molecules to exacerbate the symptoms and signs of Alzheimer’s disease.”
Healthline reports Dr. Chen “noted that while his research does not prove that periodontal disease can cause Alzheimer’s disease, it does suggest that if you don’t adequately treat gum disease, you might make Alzheimer’s disease symptoms worse.” In addition, “treating gum disease in the early stages of Alzheimer’s could potentially slow its progression.”
Dimensions Of Dental Hygiene also reported.