FROM GUMS TO BRAIN: PERIODONTAL INFLAMMATION AND ITS EMERGING ROLE IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/revgeov17n5-115Keywords:
Periodontitis, Alzheimer’s Disease, Oral-Systemic Link, Neuroinflammation, Oral Microbiome, Chronic Inflammation, Systemic HealthAbstract
Objective: To explore the association between periodontitis and Alzheimer’s disease, emphasizing the role of chronic inflammation and the oral–brain axis in neurodegenerative processes.
Methods: A narrative synthesis of recent literature was conducted, including observational studies, mechanistic research, and clinical evidence examining the relationship between periodontal disease and neurodegeneration. Focus was given to inflammatory pathways, microbial dissemination, and systemic effects.
Results: Emerging evidence suggests that periodontitis may contribute to systemic inflammation capable of influencing the central nervous system. Periodontal pathogens and their byproducts have been detected in brain tissues, and elevated levels of inflammatory mediators have been associated with cognitive decline. These findings support a potential link between chronic oral infection and the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease, although causality remains unconfirmed.
Conclusion: The oral–brain axis represents a growing area of interest, with periodontitis potentially playing a role in neuroinflammatory processes with Alzheimer’s disease. While current evidence supports an association, further longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to clarify causality and determine whether periodontal treatment can impact cognitive outcomes.
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References
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