Gum Disease and Tooth Loss Can Result in Brain Shrinkage, Leading To Damage Similar to Those With Alzheimer’s

Brushing one's teeth doesn't always come to the top of the priority list regarding hygiene for some individuals. A new study reveals why it should and how gum disease and tooth loss might lead to something much more severe.

Gum Disease and Tooth Loss

According to News Week, a new study reveals that gum disease and tooth loss might lead to something more severe. Aside from mouth damage, the study suggests that it could result in one's brain shrinking.

With gum disease and tooth loss, researchers now say this could shrink the hippocampus. This is the brain area responsible for a person's memories.

The type of effects on the brain that gum disease and tooth loss could cause was explained to be similar to what would happen to people with Alzheimer's. This is because both scenarios show evidence of one's brain shrinking.

Per the National Library of Medicine, Alzheimer's early stages show rapid loss of tissue in the hippocampus. With this damage, the patient experiences functional disconnection with other brain parts.

How Common Is Gum Disease?

The CDC reports that almost 46% of adults over 30 in the US already show gum disease signs. Even more critical signs of gum disease were found in people in 9% of adults.

The study noted by News Week also highlights how critical this can be since, for adults in the US, Alzheimer's is considered the top six cause of death. Satoshi Yamaguchi, the author of the study from Tohoku University, said they've seen chronic peripheral inflammation in previous studies, highlighting a risk of dementia.

News Week reports that Yamaguchi also commented on how they saw gum disease lead to brain shrinkage, otherwise known as hippocampal atrophy. The author said tooth loss could lead to chewing simulation reduction, often known to result in brain shrinkage.

Despite the findings, Yamaguchi still stresses that the study didn't prove that brain shrinkage and gum disease had causal relationships. He clarified that it showed the hippocampal atrophy rate and association with teeth number and periodontal disease.

Other Potential Factors

Yamaguchi noted other factors that could affect the relationship between tooth loss and brain health. He said that as teeth decrease with age, age could be the confounding factor regarding the association between fewer teeth and the increased rate of hippocampal atrophy.

The study included 172 individuals over 55, and Yamaguchi stresses that it still needs to be tested with a diverse, larger group. Yamaguchi's analysis, including his findings, was published in Neurology.

News Week reports that Yamaguchi suggests extracting harder-to-treat teeth and replacing them with appropriate dentures. He also highlighted how gum disease was referred to as a "silent disease" and could be treated without pain.

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