Your mouth & your mind
Gum bacteria found in Alzheimer's brainsThe oral–brain connection is one of the most exciting frontiers in modern medicine — and protecting your gums today may be protecting your future self.
The oral–brain connection is one of the most exciting frontiers in modern medicine — and protecting your gums today may be protecting your future self.
In a landmark 2019 Science Advances study, P. gingivalis and its toxic gingipain enzymes were identified in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, with levels tracking the disease's hallmark tau pathology.
In mice, oral infection led the bacteria to colonize the brain and increase amyloid-beta.
A 2022 Periodontology 2000 review concluded the evidence increasingly points to a plausible causative role — making prevention a hopeful strategy.
Research retrieved via PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Associations in observational research do not by themselves prove causation; we share this to inspire prevention, not as medical advice or diagnosis.
Protecting your gums today is an investment in your future, clear-headed self — and it starts with one gentle visit.