Clinical and bacterial markers of periodontitis and their association with incident all-cause and Alzheimer’s disease
Type: Research Paper
Author: May A. Beydoun, PhD, MPH1,*,†, Hind A. Beydoun, PhD, MPH2, Sharmin Hossain, PhD1,
Ziad W. El-Hajj, PhD3, Jordan Weiss, MA4, Alan B. Zonderman, PhD1
Summary
The study investigated the association between periodontal (gum) disease and the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia and mortality in middle-aged and older U.S. adults.
The study found that among individuals aged 65 and older, the incidence and mortality rates of Alzheimer's disease were consistently linked to clinical markers of gum disease (like probing pocket depth) and specific bacteria commonly found in periodontal infections (such as Porphyromonas gingivalis).
The authors conclude that periodontal pathogens are associated with Alzheimer's disease, particularly in older adults, and recommend further research through randomised controlled trials to see if treating these pathogens can help reduce neurodegeneration.