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Periodontitis and Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer's Disease
Mark Ide1, Marina Harris2, Annette Stevens3
1Dental Institute, Kings College London, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|March 11, 2016
Summary
Periodontitis, a common gum disease, significantly accelerates cognitive decline in Alzheimer's Disease patients. This oral health condition is linked to increased systemic inflammation, potentially worsening dementia progression.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Oral Health
- Immunology
Background:
- Periodontitis is prevalent in the elderly and may increase with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) due to declining oral hygiene.
- Elevated antibodies to periodontal bacteria correlate with a heightened systemic pro-inflammatory state.
- Increased serum pro-inflammatory cytokines are linked to faster cognitive decline in AD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between periodontitis and dementia severity in AD patients.
- To determine if periodontitis correlates with cognitive decline and elevated systemic inflammation in AD.
- To assess the impact of periodontitis on the rate of cognitive decline over a six-month period.
Main Methods:
- A six-month observational cohort study involving 60 community-dwelling individuals with mild to moderate AD.
- Cognitive assessments (ADAS-cog) and blood samples for systemic inflammatory markers were collected at baseline and six months.
- Dental health, including periodontitis, was assessed by a dental hygienist blinded to cognitive outcomes.
Main Results:
- Periodontitis at baseline was not associated with baseline cognitive state.
- Participants with periodontitis exhibited a six-fold increase in the rate of cognitive decline over six months.
- Periodontitis was linked to a relative increase in the pro-inflammatory state during the follow-up period.
Conclusions:
- Periodontitis is associated with increased cognitive decline in Alzheimer's Disease, independent of baseline cognitive status.
- The link between periodontitis and cognitive decline may be mediated by systemic inflammation.
- Managing oral health, specifically periodontitis, could be a potential strategy to mitigate cognitive decline in AD.
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