19/08/2025
Recent research suggests that individuals with poor oral hygiene—particularly those experiencing gum disease or tooth loss—may face a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. One large-scale analysis involving over 30 million people found that poor oral health doubled the risk of Alzheimer’s, even after adjusting for age, gender, and other laboratory factors. Conditions such as tooth loss and periodontal disease emerged as especially strong contributors.
These findings are supported by imaging studies showing that features of gum disease correlate with early markers of Alzheimer’s in the brain. Notably, researchers involved in the Washington Heights–Inwood Columbia Aging Project observed that signs of periodontitis were linked to imaging indicators of neurodegeneration—highlighting a possible pathway where oral inflammation might affect brain health.
Emerging evidence is also exploring the mechanisms behind this connection. Harmful oral bacteria like Porphyromonas gingivalis—often present in gum disease—have been detected in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s. Studies suggest these bacteria may promote neuroinflammation and the formation of amyloid plaques, one of the disease’s signature changes.
Research references:
🔎PMCID: PMC10669972 ; PMID: 38002515 (Poor Oral Health Linked with Higher Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease)
🔎The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association:- (Periodontitis and brain magnetic resonance imaging markers of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive aging)
Tom Rubinstein, Adam M. Brickman, Bin Cheng, Sandra Burkett, Heekuk Park, Medini K. Annavajhala, Anne-Catrin Uhlemann, Howard Andrews, Jose Gutierrez, Bruce J. Paster, James M. Noble, Panos N. Papapanou