Alzheimer's Could Be Caused by Mouth Infection, Study Says
- 5 years ago
Alzheimer's Could
Be Caused by Mouth
Infection, Study Says Microbiologists discovered the
same pathogen that causes gum
disease was also present in the brains
of Alzheimer's patients who had died. The research team claims
to have made the strongest
ever link between gingivitis
and Alzheimer's disease. Stephen Dominy, via Science Alert The discovery was published
in a paper from scientists
at the University of Louisville. Also of interest to the
researchers was the presence of
toxic enzymes called gingipains in patients who had not been
diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Gingipains are produced
by the gum disease pathogen. This is significant because it
points to a cause and effect that
indicates Alzheimer's could be
the effect of gum disease, rather than gum disease
being the effect of poor
oral care due to Alzheimer's.
Be Caused by Mouth
Infection, Study Says Microbiologists discovered the
same pathogen that causes gum
disease was also present in the brains
of Alzheimer's patients who had died. The research team claims
to have made the strongest
ever link between gingivitis
and Alzheimer's disease. Stephen Dominy, via Science Alert The discovery was published
in a paper from scientists
at the University of Louisville. Also of interest to the
researchers was the presence of
toxic enzymes called gingipains in patients who had not been
diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Gingipains are produced
by the gum disease pathogen. This is significant because it
points to a cause and effect that
indicates Alzheimer's could be
the effect of gum disease, rather than gum disease
being the effect of poor
oral care due to Alzheimer's.