Why Your Dentist May Be Able To Identify A New Alzheimer's Warning Sign
Just like your gut and reproductive organs, your mouth has its very own microbiome that plays a role in your health and wellness. Now, new research suggests that certain bacteria in your mouth could play a role in your risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s disease is a complicated condition, with many different factors that influence when and if a person develops it. But the latest findings suggest what’s happening in your mouth could be linked on some level with your brain health. Here’s the deal.
Meet the expert: Jennifer Bramen, PhD, is a senior research scientist and director of neuroimaging at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Mark S. Wolff, DDS, PhD, is dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
What did the study find?
The study, published in PNAS Nexus, looked at 110 people over the age of 50 who participated in an online study that tracks brain health of middle-aged people in the UK. The participants were broken into two groups: One group had no detectable decline in brain function, while the others had mild cognitive impairment, a condition where people have more memory or thinking problems than others their age. People with mild cognitive impairment are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, according to the National Institute on Aging (NIA).
The study participants provided the scientists with mouth rinse samples, which were then analyzed, allowing the researchers to break down the bacteria contained in each sample. The researchers discovered that certain bacteria found in the participants’ mouths were linked with having better memory and attention; Others were associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Which bacteria are associated with memory and attention?
This study found that people who had large amounts of the bacteria Neisseria and Haemophilus had better memory and attention. They also could do complex tasks more easily, based on the findings.
Which bacteria are linked with memory loss?
The researchers found that people who had higher levels of the bacteria Porphyromonas (a key pathogen in chronic periodontitis) in their mouths were more likely to have memory problems. The bacteria Prevotella (also commonly found in peridontel disease) was also associated with people having the gene APOE4, which is linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
How does mouth bacteria impact brain health?
There have been several studies that have linked bacteria in the mouth to dementia. Research has generally suggested that having higher levels of harmful bacteria in the mouth may raise the risk of bodily inflammation, which could potentially also raise the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers in this study theorized that harmful bacteria could get into the bloodstream and damage the brain, raising the risk of Alzheimer's disease. They also suggest that a bacterial imbalance could impact how much nitric oxide is formed from nitrate, a compound in vegetables. Nitric oxide is important for memory and communication in the brain.
But it’s hard to say for sure that the bacteria causes dementia or issues with brain health, says Mark S. Wolff, DDS, PhD, dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
“We need to be careful not to assert a cause and effect when both of these things may just be happening at the same time,” he says. “People can have bad gum disease, and lots of bacteria, and develop Alzheimer's disease. Did one cause the other or did they just both occur because we weren't taking good care of our mouth while we were developing the Alzheimer's disease?”
How can I make sure to have the “good bacteria” in my mouth?
Eating a plant-based diet seems to be a good start, according to Jennifer Bramen, PhD, a senior research scientist and director of neuroimaging at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.
Adding nitrate-rich foods like veggies into your diet “can benefit the oral microbiome by promoting bacteria associated with better oral and cognitive health outcomes,” she says. This may also help to suppress bacteria that’s linked with dementia, Bramen explains.
Again, it’s hard to say at this point that these bacteria cause Alzheimer’s disease, they're just linked. But it's never a bad idea to up your veggie intake.
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