Study: Gum bacteria may be linked to Alzheimer’s disease

Editor's Note

A June 2022 study, titled “The Periodontal Pathogen Fusobacterium nucleatum Exacerbates Alzheimer’s Pathogenesis via Specific Pathways” and published by Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, found that Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), a common bacteria associated with oral conditions, may be linked to Alzheimer’s disease, HealthLine July 19 reports.

According to the article, F. nucleatum has been linked to various oral conditions such as gum disease, bad breath, tooth abscess, and mouth cancer, as well as to a “variety of diseases elsewhere in the body, including cancers, infections, and inflammatory conditions.” Jake Chen, DMD, MDS, PhD, professor of periodontology, director of the Division of Oral Biology at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and lead author of this study, found that F. nucleatum might worsen Alzheimer’s disease after he and his team conducted tests on mice.

According to Chen, other studies show that F. nucleatum reduced memory and thinking skills in certain signal pathways in the mice. The cause can be attributed to F. nucleatum either creating inflammation or taking up residence in the brain and secreting pathological molecules. Inflammation or infection is a major determinant in cognitive decline as Alzheimer’s disease progresses, Chen said.

Good oral hygiene and gum disease treatment and prevention may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, the article noted. Access the article below for oral hygiene maintenance tips.