Alzheimer’s Disease and Your Mouth

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 64% of adults 65 or older have moderate to severe periodontal disease. For many, they have made the decision to wait on treatment, thinking the worse that can happen is they will lose a few teeth over the years. Now a small study has potentially linked Periodontal Disease with Alzheimer’s.

The study was recently published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and it discussed the findings. Researchers analyzed the brains of ten people with Alzheimer’s and ten without. In 40% of the diseased brain samples, the oral bacteria related to gum-disease was found.

We already know of links between gum disease and respiratory problems, pancreatic cancer, heart disease and diabetes. “Periodontal Disease is critical to control,” say Dr. Denine Rice from her Riverside Periodontal practice. “It’s not just about keeping your teeth,” she adds. “It’s also about keeping your body and mind healthy.”