HealthDay reports, “A new study funds that adults who are genetically prone to have cavities, dentures and missing teeth are also more likely to show signs of declining brain health.” A group led by Dr. Cyprien Rivier, a postdoctoral fellow in neurology at Yale School of Medicine, analyzed the potential association between oral health and brain health using data on 40,000 adults in the U.K. Biobank. The findings showed that “people with a tendency for cavities, missing teeth and dentures had a 24% increase in the amount of white matter hyperintensities,” and “they also had a 43% change in microstructural damage scores visible on their MRIs.” The preliminary research will be presented at the American Stroke Association’s international conference.
DrBicuspid reports that Dr. Rivier said, “Poor oral health may cause declines in brain health, so we need to be extra careful with our oral hygiene because it has implications far beyond the mouth.”
Healthline reported that “experts say it’s important to make regular visits to the dentist as well as practice good oral hygiene at home.”