The cause of this disease could be bacterial, produced by microorganisms derived from periodontitis disease
In recent years, several scientific studies have supported the hypothesis that Alzheimer's disease is not just a disease, but an infection. Although the exact mechanisms of this infection are still under investigation, many articles suggest that the spread of Alzheimer's goes beyond what was previously thought.
Porphyromonas gingivalis found in the brains of deceased Alzheimer's patients
Recently, scientists have found a possible connection between gum disease and Alzheimer's disease. In a study led by Jan Potempa, a microbiologist at the University of Louisville, Porphyromonas gingivalis, the pathogen behind chronic periodontitis (also known as gum disease), was discovered in the brains of deceased Alzheimer's patients.
Researchers have found a possible connection between gum disease and Alzheimer's disease. In separate experiments with mice, oral infection with the pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis led to brain colonization by the bacteria, along with increased production of amyloid beta (Aβ), sticky proteins commonly associated with Alzheimer's disease. The research team coordinated by the pharmaceutical company Cortexyme does not claim to have discovered definitive evidence of the cause of Alzheimer's yet.
However, there is a solid line of research here. Infectious agents have been implicated in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease before, but evidence of causation has not been convincing. Now there is strong evidence connecting the intracellular gram-negative pathogen P. gingivalis and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, the team identified toxic enzymes called gingipains secreted by bacteria in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, which correlated with two separate markers of the disease: Tau protein and ubiquitin.
A possible indication of the future development of the disease
The research team identified toxic gingipains in the brains of deceased people who were never diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This is important because while P. gingivalis and disease have been linked before, it has never been known whether gum disease causes Alzheimer's or whether dementia leads to poor oral care.
The fact that low levels of gingipains were evident even in people who were never diagnosed with Alzheimer's suggests that they might have developed the disease if they had lived longer.
So far, drugs targeting toxic bacterial proteins have only shown benefits in mice. However, it is not ruled out that in the future results could be seen in advanced experimental phases in humans, according to a statement from David Reynolds, scientific director of The Alzheimer's Research UK.
Media sources:
ENSEDECIENCIA: Descubrimiento científico revela que la causa del Alzheimer podría provenir de su boca. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://ensedeciencia.com/2023/05/27/descubrimiento-cientifico-revela-que-la-causa-del-alzheimer-podria-provenir-de-su-boca-2/ [Consulta: 14/06/2023].
BBC News Mundo. Alzhéimer: ¿la periodontitis crónica influye en el desarrollo de la enfermedad? [En línea]. Disponible en: Alzhéimer: ¿la periodontitis crónica influye en el desarrollo de la enfermedad? - BBC News Mundo [Consulta: 14/06/2023].
SARDIÑA, RAFA. ElPeriodico.com. ¿La inflamación de las encías aumenta el riesgo de padecer alzhéimer e ictus? [En línea]. Disponible en: Periodontitis: la enfermedad de las encías aumenta el riesgo de alzhéimer (elperiodico.com) [Consulta: 14/06/2023].
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