At least half of dementia cases are preventable.
And 2 of the major risk factors can be found right in your mouth.
As Dr. Wood wrote in How to Keep Your Brain Sharp:
"More than twenty years ago, P. gingivalis was found in arterial atherosclerotic plaques known to cause heart attacks and strokes. And since then, researchers have collected reasonably strong evidence to suggest that poor oral health plays a direct role in the risk of heart disease—either because of bacteria invading the arteries after
they enter the bloodstream or through an increase in chronic inflammation.
More recently, P. gingivalis has also been found inside amyloid plaques in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. As amyloid can have antimicrobial effects, it’s believed that one reason for it to accumulate in the brain is as an immune response to the presence of bacteria and viruses that are causing local inflammation. In line with this,
though the results of individual studies are inconsistent, meta-analyses suggest that those who have periodontal disease are at an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia, while treatment of gum disease is associated with decreased risk.
One recent study using data from the NHANES database in the United States found that those with worse oral health were more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s later in life. The
study also measured the amounts of antibodies against oral bacteria like P. gingivalis. Higher levels of antibodies that fight bacteria from the mouth were associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting that those with an invasion or infection by those bacteria were more likely to experience cognitive decline.
Therefore, staying on top of oral hygiene likely has both direct and indirect benefits to brain
health, while also being easy to do and low risk."
My Thoughts:
1. While his suggested oral health strategies are ok (oral hygiene and xylitol gum), the real solution is proper
diet and proper oral posture that prevent dysbiosis.
2. There's a glaring miss in his "sleep" section. Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a major risk factor for cognitive decline.
Patients with untreated sleep apnea experience cognitive impairment up to 10 years earlier.
Again, the solution comes down to proper diet and oral posture.
Healthy body weight and sleeping with your lips sealed shut and tongue sealed to palate are key to a stable airway a good sleep.
Additionally, proper diet and oral posture during youth facilitate proper jaw development which decreases the risk for SDB down the line.
