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(CBS) – The researchers say they have found more evidence linking the bacterium found in a common type of gum disease and dementia. A new study, published in the journal Science Advances, has discovered a key pathogen badociated with chronic periodontal disease in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.
The authors of the study claim that these findings, as well as additional tests on mice, provide a "strong evidence" of a link between the two diseases and could constitute a potential new way of treating the disease. # 39; Alzheimer's. The devastating disease affects 47 million people worldwide and there is no cure.
However, Alzheimer's experts not involved in the research point out that it is too early to say what is the strength of this badociation or whether it could lead to effective treatments.
Scientists from Cortexyme, Inc., a privately-owned, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, have badyzed the brain tissue of patients with Alzheimer's disease and found evidence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacterium badociated with Parkinson's disease. gums.
Other tests on mice have shown that this bacterium could move from the mouth to the brain and increase the production of beta-amyloid, a protein strongly badociated with Alzheimer's disease.
In addition to Porphyromonas gingivalis, researchers have discovered toxic enzymes produced by the bacteria called gingipain in the neurons of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Higher levels of gingipain were badociated with tau and ubiquitin, two other proteins involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease.
The team also tested drugs in mice to eliminate harmful bacteria and block its toxic enzymes. In these laboratory experiments, scientists were able to reduce the number of Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteria in infected brains, block the production of toxic proteins and stop brain degeneration.
The researchers hope that this will provide the basis for developing a new therapy that could one day treat humans in the same way.
"The results of this study provide evidence that P. gingivalis and brain gingipains play a central role in the pathogenesis [development] from AD [Alzheimer’s disease], providing a new conceptual framework for the treatment of diseases, "write the authors of the study.
This is not the first study to show a relationship between gum disease and Alzheimer's disease.
A study conducted in 2017 in Taiwan found that the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease was increased by 70% in people with chronic gum disease that lasted 10 years. Another small study published in 2016 in PLOS ONE found that gum disease was badociated with a six-fold increase in the rate of cognitive decline in people with mild to moderate dementia.
Other research has examined whether various bacterial, viral, or fungal infections could play a role in Alzheimer's disease, but there is currently not enough evidence to say so.
"The idea that bacteria and viruses may play a role in brain diseases like Alzheimer's is not necessarily new," said Rebecca Edelmayer, Ph.D., director of engagement. scientist of the Alzheimer's Association, at CBS News. "But what this article suggests is actually an badociation and not a causal link, and this should be emphasized very clearly when we talk about studies such as this.Additional research is needed to really identify the role causal microbes. "
In other words, it is unclear whether gum disease increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease or whether people with dementia have an increased risk of gum disease due to poor oral care.
Edelmayer also warned not to put too much weight on the drugs tested in mice. "It will be really important to see how this happens in human randomized controlled trials, which is the gold standard for determining whether a therapy targeting a mechanism such as the mechanism of P. gingivalis would actually be effective," she said. .
Although taking care of his teeth and gums is an important part of a healthy aging, Edelmayer said that it was too early to say whether these measures could help prevent the disease from spreading. ; Alzheimer's.
Of course, many factors go into the risk of developing dementia in a person. The Alzheimer's Association has launched a campaign called "10 Ways to Love One's Brain" to help people reduce their risk.
"We think a lot about things like diet, exercise, good cardiovascular health management, good sleep, all of these things could potentially play a role as a style intervention." life to reduce your risk of developing a cognitive decline, "said Edelmayer.
She notes that a good oral health could one day fall into one of these categories if more evidence showed that gum disease increased the risk of developing dementia.
Edelmayer says that with so much still unknown about the disease, studies like this one are important to better understand Alzheimer's disease.
"I think research really reinforces the complexity of Alzheimer's disease," she said. "This highlights the importance of sharing information, experiences and data like this in a very free and widely available way in the research community so that this solid discussion about this type of science takes place. "
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