Articles

Long-term exposure to Porphyromonas gingivalis causes inflammation and degeneration of brain neurons in mice that is similar to the effects of Alzheimer’s disease in human beings, according to the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). These findings suggest that periodontal disease may be an initiator of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers there report.

“Other studies have demonstrated a close association between periodontitis and cognitive impairment, but this is the first study to show that exposure to the periodontal bacteria results in the formation of senile plaques that accelerate the development of neuropathology found in Alzheimer’s patients,” said Keiko Watanabe, DDS, professor of periodontics at the UIC College of Dentistry and corresponding author of the study.  [Read more...]

Routine oral care to treat periodontitis may play a role in reducing inflammation and toxins in the blood (endotoxemia) and improving cognitive function in people with liver cirrhosis, according to researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Cirrhosis, which the researchers call a growing epidemic in the United States, is the presence of scar tissue on the liver. When severe, it can lead to liver failure. Complications include infections throughout the body and hepatic encephalopathy, a buildup of toxins in the brain caused by advanced liver disease. Symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy include confusion, mood changes, and impaired cognitive function.  [Read more...]

Aleksandra Zuk, a PhD candidate at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, is the lead author of the study looking at link between vitamin D3, gum disease and Type 2 diabetes. Credit: University of Toronto

In a rare study of its kind, new University of Toronto research has identified how vitamin D3 and periodontitis influence Type 2 diabetes.

Aleksandra Zuk, a PhD candidate in epidemiology at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, found increased odds of developing Type 2 diabetes among people with gum disease who are also lacking in vitamin D3.  [Read more...]

The University of Granada School of Dentistry reports that men with severe gum disease are more than twice as likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction, adjusting for biochemical markers and other comorbidities.

The researchers conducted a case-control study involving 80 male subjects with erectile dysfunction, based on the International Index of Erectile Function, and 78 controls. Each subject received a periodontal examination as well.

Also, the researchers gathered socioeconomic data and assessed each subject’s testosterone, lipid profile, C-reactive protein, and glycemic parameters. They then compared all variables between the groups and performed multivariate logistic regression analyses.  [Read more...]