Link Between Periodontitis and Alzheimer’s Disease Uncovered

A new study that examined the brain tissue, spinal tissue, and saliva of patients with Alzheimer’s disease found Porphyromonas gingivalis present in samples taken from both living and deceased subjects. This bacteria is associated with the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Published in Science Advances, the study results found the presence of an enzyme released by P. gingivalis in 96% of the 53 brain tissue samples taken from subjects with Alzheimer’s disease.

Richard Kao, DDS, PhD, president of the American Academy of Periodontology, commented in a press release, “These recent findings present strong evidence on how periodontal disease can impact the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease and should highlight how crucial it is to manage periodontal disease, especially in older adults or individuals who have increased risk for dementia.”

While the study results are a welcome addition to the evidence base, more research is necessary to better understand the association between Alzheimer’s disease and periodontitis. The United States Food and Drug Administration is conducting a phase II clinical trial on the use of a small molecule inhibitor of the P.gingivalis enzyme to interfere with the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. February 2019;17(2):11.