The Link Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Gingivitis

According to a new article by the Washington Post, research now suggests that even though family history plays a large role in the development of Alzheimer’s, there are certain behaviors that can delay the onset of the disease, as long as they’re started early enough in life. Obviously, middle-aged people can still benefit from lifestyle changes but it’s best to start introducing healthy habits earlier on in life.

One of the healthy habits to begin earlier rather than later is to avoid gum disease and gingivitis. This is not just because gum disease is bad for dental health, but it’s also been linked to the development of Alzheimer’s specifically. Other healthy lifestyle changes such as increasing exercise and drinking vegetable and fruit juices can also help you to avoid or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Gum Disease and Alzheimer’s Link

Around 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and because the baby boomer generation is averaging around the age of 60, the number of Alzheimer’s cases is expected to increase up to 70% by the end of this year (2020).

The research for the study published by the Washington Post was compiled from three different and separate studies. The first was of middle-aged children of Alzheimer’s parents and looked at healthy lifestyle habits as a way to delay the onset of the disease. The second showed that people who drank fruit and vegetable juice at least three times a week were at a lower risk for the disease.

The third study followed around 100 sets of identical twins to find any lifestyle factors that may be associated with the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s. This is the study that found that those who had gum disease and periodontitis earlier in life were around 4 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s and dementia. The researchers believe that the inflammation caused by gum disease may play a role in the destruction of the brain cells, resulting in Alzheimer’s.

The best way to avoid gum disease and periodontitis are to practice good oral hygiene habits. This means brushing at least twice a day, flossing every day, and making sure to visit your general dentist every six months for a dental cleaning and checkup. Dentists can remove tartar and detect any early signs of gum problems.

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