Gum disease could cause Alzheimer's

 

Agrowing number of scientific studies have long supported a hypothesis that at first glance seems far-fetched: Alzheimer's disease is an infection.

 The scientific journal Science Advances reinforces the theory that Alzheimer's could be caused by gum disease and, therefore, researchers continue to study its specific mechanisms, according to Science Alerts.

In new work led by Jan Potempa, lead author, a microbiologist at the University of Louisville, USA, researchers report the discovery of Porphyromonas gingivalis - the pathogen behind chronic periodontitis (also known as gum disease) - in the brain of patients who died from Alzheimer's.

In order to arrive at this affirmation, studies were carried out in mice that caused mouth infections with the bacteria that reached the brain and this produced amyloid beta peptide (Aβ), the protein associated with Alzheimer's disease.

According to the researchers, although a possible relationship to these infections was defined in previous studies, the evidence for causality was not convincing. Now, for the first time, there are strong demonstrations connecting the pathogen P. gingivalis and Alzheimer's.

The task force, which is coordinated by the pharmaceutical startup Cortexyme, co-founded by first author Stephen Dominy, does not ensure that this conclusion is final. However, they believe that they are facing a strong line to continue investigating.