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SUNDAY, April 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) – Regular brushing and flossing can help keep your teeth longer.
Could it also save your brain?
The new research suggests that bacteria involved in gum disease could play a key role in the development of Alzheimer's disease.
DNA of the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis is found more often in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, said lead researcher Jan Potempa, a professor at the faculty of dentistry at the University of Louisville, Kentucky. P. gingivalis is one of the causes of periodontitis, the most serious type of gum disease.
"DNA is found in the brain of Alzheimer's, but less frequently in the brains of people who die at the same age from causes other than Alzheimer's," said Potempa.
The brains affected by Alzheimer's disease also contain higher levels of toxin secreted by P. gingivalis called gingipain, he says.
Potempa and his colleagues believe that the bacteria and its toxins could be linked to Alzheimer's disease, a suspicion supported by their research involving laboratory mice.
The researchers infected the mouse's mouth with P. gingivalis and found that the bacteria had spread to the brain. The infection appeared to increase the production of beta-amyloid, a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease, and also caused inflammation of the brain.
The researchers also discovered that a drug targeting gingipain was blocking the movement of the bacteria in the brains of mice.
The experimental drug, called COR388, has reduced the amount of P. gingivalis researchers reported in mouse brains, with a concomitant decrease in beta-amyloid production and inflammation of the brain.
Researchers have indicated that a Phase 1 clinical trial was underway to determine if COR388 could prevent Alzheimer's disease. San Francisco-based Cortexyme Inc. has developed the drug and supports the research.
There are several routes through which P. gingivalis could enter the brain, said Potempa. It could be transmitted by blood, cell-to-cell infection or the nervous system.
"There are a lot of nerves in our mouth that have a direct connection to the brain," he added. "If the bacterium gets into those nerves, it can move directly into the brain."
If this theory of Alzheimer's disease turns out to be true, it could be that the amyloid plaques supposed to disrupt the functioning of the brain are actually the brains that defend themselves against the infection, Potempa said.
"The beta-amyloid has an antibacterial function," he said. "It's not just there that plaques form, it can kill bacteria, and these beta-amyloid plaques can be essential for defending the brain against bacteria."
About 46% of adults age 30 and older have gum disease, and about 9% have a very serious illness, said Potempa.
You can avoid gum disease by brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing regularly to remove the plaque between your teeth and visiting your dentist for regular exams and cleanings, according to the National Institute. American dental and craniofacial research.
This study fits into a growing field of research aimed at determining whether viral or bacterial infections could be badociated with Alzheimer's disease, said Keith Fargo, director of science and outreach programs at the University of Ottawa. Alzheimer's Association.
Another respected research team is studying the possible links between the herpes virus and Alzheimer's disease, he said.
"In fact, he has attracted a lot of attention over the last two years.If you asked me the question three years ago, I would have said that it was an idea rather marginal, "said Fargo.
But a cause-and-effect relationship must still be established between any infectious agent and Alzheimer's disease, Fargo said.
He said that it's possible that bacteria like P. gingivalis are at higher levels in the Alzheimer's brain because it is weakened and less able to defend itself against infection.
"When the brain is afflicted with Alzheimer's disease or other diseases, it is less and less able to fight these diseases," Fargo said.
Dr. Ronald Petersen, director of the Alzheimer Research Center at the Mayo Clinic, agreed that the link between bacterial infection and Alzheimer's disease is still "pretty speculative".
"I would certainly not worry for a group of readers that this is the cause of Alzheimer's disease or that, if you suffer from gum disease, you are more likely to develop a dementia later in life, "he said.
Petersen said the evidence in the mouse was interesting, but still remained a step ahead of Alzheimer's disease in humans. Animal research does not always produce the same results in humans.
"This might make it seem like it's plausible, but again, these are genetically modified mice and it's a bit far from human reality at this stage," he said.
Potempa presented his research Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Association of Anatomists, in Orlando, Florida, in 2019. Research presented at meetings is generally considered preliminary until they published in a peer-reviewed journal.
More information
The National Dental and Craniofacial Research Institute of the United States has more on gum disease.
SOURCES: Jan Potempa, Ph.D., D.Sc., Professor, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, Kentucky; Keith Fargo, Ph.D., Director of Scientific Programs and Outreach, Alzheimer's Association; Ronald Petersen, M.D., Ph.D., director, Mayo Clinic's Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research, and Aging Study of the Mayo Clinic on Aging, Rochester, Min.
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