Gum infection could be linked to Alzheimer’s, study says

CNN: A gum infection was found to be a potential risk factor of Alzheimer’s disease in a study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances.
The bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis, known as Pg, lead to the gum infection chronic periodontitis, causing chronic inflammation and potential tooth loss.
This same bacteria were also found in 51 out of 53 brain autopsies of Alzheimer’s disease patients, according to new research by Dr. Stephen Dominy and Casey Lynch, founders of the pharmaceutical firm Cortexyme. The pharmaceutical company, which is focused on developing therapeutics to alter the course of Alzheimer’s disease, funded the research.
Following on from their findings, the team also tested blocking the bacteria in mice by injecting small molecules targeting Pg, to inhibit it, and found that it could reduce neurodegeneration in the brain, showing a potential new way to tackle Alzheimer’s disease.
Lynch said that her team’s “publication sheds light on an unexpected driver of Alzheimer’s pathology — the bacterium commonly associated with chronic gum disease,” adding that it also shows a “promising” approach to address the disease.
Previous studies have established a link between periodontal disease and Alzheimer’s, Lynch said. She said that the new research observes a “highly significant” link between Alzheimer’s and the oral infection and that the mouse study indicates causation. However, James Pickett, head of research at the UK Alzheimer’s Society, said that “in research we’ve supported to uncover the key risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, gum disease hasn’t emerged as a major cause for concern.”
Pickett, who was not involved in the new research, added that “the laboratory work does suggest that this infection could cause damage to cells of the brain, but there isn’t yet clear evidence that it can cause this damage in people or result in Alzheimer’s.”
Lynch mentioned that despite “significant funding and the best efforts of academic, industry and advocacy communities, clinical progress against Alzheimer’s has been frustratingly slow.”
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, which is characterized by memory loss that gets worse over time. The condition is believed to be caused by a buildup of beta amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles called tau in the brain. So far, there is no cure for the disease.
In 2014, it was estimated that as many as 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s diseases, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the UK, 850,000 people live with dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.