Brush Your Teeth, Save Your Brain

Tools to prevent Alzheimer's?

The battle against Alzheimer's Disease has been frustrating because definitive causes haven't been identified. Genetics, trauma, depression, sleeplessness, and obesity have all been proposed.

The most promising candidates have been amyloid plaques and tangles found in the brain tissue of deceased Alzheimer's sufferers. While suggestive, plaques and tangles have also been found in the brains of people who evidenced no Alzheimer's while they were alive.

Some researchers are now looking into the bacteria responsible for gum disease:

Multiple research teams have been investigating P. gingivalis, and have so far found that it invades and inflames brain regions affected by Alzheimer’s; that gum infections can worsen symptoms in mice genetically engineered to have Alzheimer’s; and that it can cause Alzheimer’s-like brain inflammation, neural damage, and amyloid plaques in healthy mice.

Plaques, according to this theory, develop as a defense against the bacteria and are not the cause of Alzheimer's Disease. (Aside: if true, this would be a textbook example of correlation not equalling causation.)

After reading this article, your humble blogger will floss more often and run the electric toothbrush for the full recommended two minutes.