Dementia and Gum Disease

About dementia

Dementia describes a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities severely enough to interfere with your daily life.  There are a number of dementia causes. Depending on the cause, some dementia symptoms may be reversible.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of progressive dementia in older adults, accounting for between 60 and 70 percent of all cases.

A joint 2012 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Alzheimer’s Disease International stated that dementia is a global “public health priority.”

The report stated that there were 35.6 million people worldwide living with dementia in 2012. It also estimated that the global prevalence of dementia would increase threefold by 2050.

The vast majority of people with Alzheimer’s are diagnosed with the condition after the age of 65, but clumps of amyloid protein (main cause of disease) can begin to build up in the brain some 15 or 20 years before symptoms appear.  

Dementia Symptoms

Dementia symptoms vary depending on the cause, but common signs and symptoms include:

Cognitive Changes

Psychological Changes

You're probably surprised that dentists are talking about a neurological disease. . . Don’t be.

Here’s what you need to know.

Bacteria that cause gum disease have been implicated as a cause of dementia. 

It turns out that one of the key bacterium that causes gum disease – Porphyromonas gingivalis – is also the root cause of Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia.

Could taking good care of gums and teeth also help to protect the brain? Yes!

Research suggests that keeping your gums healthy may prevent dementia.

In a paper published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers describe how they found a modest link between severe gum disease and dementia, which is consistent with some previous studies.

Science is revealing an indisputable truth:

Oral health is an integral part of preventive cardiology, a substantial adjunct to diabetic care, and a major part of the prevention of any inflammatory disease. Groundbreaking research emerges daily on the importance of oral health to overall health.

Study links gum disease to raised dementia risk

Gum disease bacteria may play a significant role in Alzheimer’s disease, researchers say.
They studied dead and living patients with diagnosed and suspected Alzheimer’s and found bacteria associated with chronic gum disease in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s, BBC News reported.

“After decades of disappointment, we may have a new lead on fighting Alzheimer’s disease. Compelling evidence that the condition is caused by a bacterium involved in gum disease could prove a game-changer in tackling one of medicine’s biggest mysteries, and lead to effective treatments.”

Now researchers from several universities have reported finding the two toxic enzymes that P. gingivalis uses to feed on human tissue in 99 and 96 percent of 54 human Alzheimer’s brain samples taken from the hippocampus – a brain area important for memory (Science Advances).

The team also found genetic material from P. gingivalis in the cerebral cortex – a region involved in conceptual thinking – in all three Alzheimer’s brains they looked for it in.

“This is the first report showing P. gingivalis DNA in human brains.” HEALTH 23 January 2019

A new study published in “Neurology,” the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, has added to that body of knowledge. There is a link between stages of periodontal disease, which can ultimately cause tooth and bone loss, and mild cognitive impairment and dementia 20 years later, the study found.

“We looked at people’s dental health over a 20-year period and found that people with the most severe gum disease at the start of our study had about twice the risk for mild cognitive impairment or dementia by the end,” said study author Ryan Demmer, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in Minneapolis.

Tests confirmed the bacteria, P. gingivalis could migrate from the mouth to the brain and that a toxic protein they secrete (gingipain) destroyed brain neurons.

The bacteria also boosted production of amyloid beta, a component of brain plaques associated with Alzheimer’s, BBC News reported.  The study was published in the journal Science Advances.

The researchers said their findings could point to new ways to help people with Alzheimer’s. Currently, there is no cure or effective treatment, BBC News reported.

Previous studies linking gum disease with dementia include one published last year that found that people with chronic gum disease for 10 years or more had a 70 percent higher risk of Alzheimer’s than those without gum disease. WebMD News from HealthDay

What Happens In Your Mouth Doesn’t Stay In Your Mouth

Your mouth normally hosts a diverse and relatively stable community of bacteria, but when dental plaque builds under the edge of your gums, it can form inflamed pockets in which P. gingivalis can thrive and release toxins.

This inflammation and toxins caused by P. gingivalis damage the lining of your mouth, which may make it possible for oral bacteria to enter the bloodstream and then other organs.

The blood-brain barrier should protect your brain from microbes, but P. gingivalis can invade white blood cells and the cells lining blood vessels, so might cross it that way. It may also invade cranial nerves near the mouth, then spread from cell to cell towards the brain over a period of years.

Need to reduce dementia risk factors

In their study paper, the researchers discuss the potential impact that reducing dementia risk factors could make.“One such risk factor,” they suggest, “is chronic periodontitis.”

Periodontitis is a common human disease in which the gums and the structures that support the teeth become inflamed due to bacterial infection. It usually starts as gingivitis, in its mild form, and occurs when bacteria accumulate in tooth plaque, causing inflammation, receding gums, and bleeding. If it progresses to the more serious form, periodontitis, it can lead to abscesses and tooth loss.

Nearly half of American adults that are older than the age of 30 have periodontal disease, according to recent findings from The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study also found that the prevalence of periodontitis rises to 70.1% in adults older than age 65. About 30% of people are genetically susceptible to oral bacterial infection. It is estimated that during their lifetime 80% of the U.S. population will develop gum disease and once it starts it does not usually reverse itself without specialized care.

What are the warning signs of gum disease?

Inflammation is how the body fights infection. Many times patients have no discomfort with mild chronic infection until the disease has spread. That’s why it is advised to get frequent dental exams and preventive dental cleanings.

If these facts are not enough to convince you to start taking care of your teeth and gums, what else do you need?

You will enjoy the resulting benefits of improved oral and general health, healing, longevity and wellness.

We’re offering full range of treatment for oral inflammation.

In a paper published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers describe how they found a modest link between severe gum disease and dementia, which is consistent with some previous studies.

As a Founding Member of American Academy of Oral- Systemic Health, we’re dedicated to not only treat patients, but educate them of the relationship of oral - systemic health.

Our dentists and hygienists have received extensive advanced training in the art and science of testing for and treating oral bacterial inflammation. Our offices are equipped with the latest therapeutics and technology to assure you sensible treatment that works… guaranteed!

Using your individual test results and assessment, we will design a plan of treatment for you to eradicate the detected bacteria. Through a combination of mechanical and laser treatments; various topical antibiotics; and The Perio-Protect Method, an FDA-cleared medical device, that’s capable of delivering antimicrobial agents and solutions to the affected areas.

Our treatment addresses the causes, monitors the healing process, and has been demonstrated to be effective in all stages of the disease. Keep in mind that this proven treatment protocol can only be completely successful with your total involvement and participation.

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