Your Dentist May Be Able to Identify a New Sign of Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease is a complicated condition, with many different factors that influence when and if a person develops it. But the latest findings suggest what's happening in your mouth could be linked on some level with your brain health. Here's the deal.
Meet the expert: Jennifer Bramen, PhD, is a senior research scientist and director of neuroimaging at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Mark S. Wolff, DDS, PhD, is dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
The study, published in PNAS Nexus, looked at 110 people over the age of 50 who participated in an online study that tracks brain health of middle-aged people in the UK. The participants were broken into two groups: One group had no detectable decline in brain function, while the others had mild cognitive impairment, a condition where people have more memory or thinking problems than others their age. People with mild cognitive impairment are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or dementia, according to the National Institute on Aging (NIA).
The study participants provided the scientists with mouth rinse samples, which were then analyzed, allowing the researchers to break down the bacteria contained in each sample. The researchers discovered that certain bacteria found in the participants' mouths were linked with having better memory and attention; Others were associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Which bacteria are associated with memory and attention?
This study found that people who had large amounts of the bacteria Neisseria and Haemophilus had better memory and attention. They also could do complex tasks more easily, based on the findings.
Which bacteria are linked with memory loss?
The researchers found that people who had higher levels of the bacteria Porphyromonas (a key pathogen in chronic periodontitis) in their mouths were more likely to have memory problems. The bacteria Prevotella (also commonly found in peridontel disease) was also associated with people having the gene APOE4, which is linked to Alzheimer's disease.
There have been several studies that have linked bacteria in the mouth to dementia. Research has generally suggested that having higher levels of harmful bacteria in the mouth may raise the risk of bodily inflammation, which could potentially also raise the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
The researchers in this study theorized that harmful bacteria could get into the bloodstream and damage the brain, raising the risk of Alzheimer's disease. They also suggest that a bacterial imbalance could impact how much nitric oxide is formed from nitrate, a compound in vegetables. Nitric oxide is important for memory and communication in the brain.
But it's hard to say for sure that the bacteria causes dementia or issues with brain health, says Mark S. Wolff, DDS, PhD, dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
'We need to be careful not to assert a cause and effect when both of these things may just be happening at the same time,' he says. 'People can have bad gum disease, and lots of bacteria, and develop Alzheimer's disease. Did one cause the other or did they just both occur because we weren't taking good care of our mouth while we were developing the Alzheimer's disease?'
Eating a plant-based diet seems to be a good start, according to Jennifer Bramen, PhD, a senior research scientist and director of neuroimaging at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.
Adding nitrate-rich foods like veggies into your diet 'can benefit the oral microbiome by promoting bacteria associated with better oral and cognitive health outcomes,' she says. This may also help to suppress bacteria that's linked with dementia, Bramen explains.
Again, it's hard to say at this point that these bacteria cause Alzheimer's disease, they're just linked. But it's never a bad idea to up your veggie intake.
You Might Also Like
Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss?
Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
This tasty seasoning can boost memory, fight anxiety and even help prevent dementia
Herb your enthusiasm — your brain's about to get a boost. For centuries, a trusty kitchen staple has been celebrated by ancient healers for its wide-ranging medicinal properties, including sharpening memory, concentration and overall cognitive function. Now, modern science is backing up that old-school wisdom, with research suggesting the powerful plant could even help fight Alzheimer's disease, the leading cause of dementia worldwide. Advertisement 5 The herb is generally considered safe for culinary and medicinal purposes when used in moderation. rh2010 – A Mediterranean marvel Rosemary, a fragrant evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean, has been a kitchen staple since the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Fast forward to today, and the versatile herb has won fans around the world. Its bold, aromatic leaves — whether fresh or dried — are widely used as seasoning, steeped in tea or infused into oil. Advertisement But could adding rosemary to your meals do more than just wake up your taste buds? More than just flavor Packed with phytochemicals, rosemary has been shown to help protect the body from harmful free radicals, oxidative stress and inflammation — all key drivers behind chronic illnesses like cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. 5 Rosemary is part of the mint family, which also includes herbs like basil, thyme and lavender. PhotoArt Thomas Klee – It also appears to pack an antimicrobial punch, having long been used in traditional medicine to fight infections and speed wound healing. Advertisement Rosemary is a solid source of vitamins A, C and B6, along with essential minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium. It's especially rich in manganese, a key nutrient for metabolic health. With all these benefits, scientists are investigating whether rosemary could help with everything from vision and skin health to hair growth, asthma relief and even slowing the spread of cancer cells. But one of the most promising frontiers in rosemary research is the brain. Brain food since ancient times Advertisement Scientists may be just catching on, but humans have relied on rosemary to boost brainpower for thousands of years. 5 Rosemary's potent tioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may give the brain a major boost. manassanant – Back in ancient Greece, students and scholars commonly wore garlands made from the plant on their heads during exams to boost their memory and focus. Centuries later, Shakespeare crowned it 'the herb of remembrance.' Turns out, they might have been onto something. In one study, older adults who sniffed rosemary scored significantly better on tests of prospective memory — the ability to remember to do something at the right time — compared to those in an unscented room. They were also more alert. 'This is potentially very important because prospective memory, for example, enables you to remember to take your medication at certain times of the day,' said Dr. Mark Moss, head of the department of psychology at Northumbria University, who helped lead the study. 5 The scent of rosemary has been shown to improve memory and focus, as well as lower stress and anxiety levels. annanahabed – Advertisement But it's not just seniors who could benefit. A 2018 trial found university students taking 500 mg of rosemary supplements twice daily for a month showed better memory than a placebo group. They also reported less anxiety and depression, plus better sleep — suggesting rosemary does more than just sharpen your mind. In another study, employees who drank rosemary-infused water daily said they felt less burnt out at their jobs than coworkers who didn't. Advertisement Scientists think rosemary may work its magic by boosting blood flow to the brain — flooding it with oxygen and nutrients that help clear out mental fog. Its calming scent has also been shown to lower cortisol, the body's main stress hormone. Meanwhile, research suggests its polyphenols may help fight depression by taming inflammation and supporting gut health. Rosemary also contains compounds like 1,8-cineole, which helps prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine — a key brain chemical tied to learning and memory. Experts suspect that keeping acetylcholine levels up may help your mind stay sharp with age. Advertisement 5 Over time, Alzheimer's disease gradually destroys thinking and memory skills. LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS – Researchers are also zeroing in on carnosic acid, a powerful antioxidant in rosemary that shields brain cells from damage linked to Alzheimer's disease. In 2025, researchers created a stable version called diAcCA, and early lab results are promising. The compound improved memory, strengthened brain cell connections and slashed levels of Alzheimer's-linked proteins like amyloid-beta and tau. Even better, diAcCA only activated in inflamed brain areas, potentially reducing side effects. In mouse studies, it showed no signs of toxicity and delivered major cognitive gains — raising hopes for future human trials. Advertisement The breakthrough could be big, with Alzheimer's becoming a growing public health crisis as America's population gets older. Right now, about 7.2 million Americans over 65 have the memory-robbing disease. By 2060, that number is expected to nearly double to 13.8 million unless new treatments or cures emerge.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
A Doctor's Plea From a Nation Asleep on Brain Disease
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As a physician who once treated pain, I now endure the unimaginable. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has left me quadriplegic, dependent on a tracheostomy to breathe and a feeding tube to eat. Diagnosed at 35, my career ended abruptly. My family's story reveals the scale of the coming storm—my father battles Alzheimer's, my uncle succumbed to Parkinson's, and my grandmother to Lewy body dementia. We are not outliers; we represent a silent epidemic. Neurodegenerative diseases are surging, yet our nation slumbers, unaware of the devastation ahead. The public's complacency is by design, built on a statistical illusion. ALS, fatal since 1869, exemplifies this peril. With a median survival of 2-3 years, it strikes about 1 in 300 people in their lifetime, which predicts that over 1 million people now alive in the U.S. will succumb to ALS. Yet, under federal law, it is labeled "rare" because that definition is based on prevalence—a static snapshot of how many people are living with a disease at one time. Because ALS kills its victims so quickly, the number of living patients stays below the 200,000-person "rare" threshold. Its very lethality ensures it is never treated like the mainstream public health crisis it is. This paradox obscures a terrifying forecast: a projected 69 percent global increase in ALS cases by 2040. This illusion of rarity perpetuates a deadly inaction that extends to all brain diseases. Alzheimer's already affects over 7 million Americans and is projected to strike nearly 13 million by 2050, costing our economy $384 billion in 2025—and projected to nearly $1 trillion annually by mid-century. Exterior view of the headquarters of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Exterior view of the headquarters of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Getty Images The failure to confront this crisis stems from a Tale of Two Agencies within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In 2017, Congress established the Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE), a dynamic hub that has revolutionized cancer treatment, accounting for 85 percent of all accelerated approvals in the last decade. This success is the result of focused will and resources; National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for cancer has topped $7.2 billion, compared to $2.8 billion for neuroscience. Neurology has no such center. Lacking an institutional home, it is fragmented, slow, and characterized by a risk aversion unthinkable in oncology. This disparity persists because of the tragic nature of these diseases. In the 1980s, ACT UP activists staged "die-ins" to force a reluctant government to fight AIDS. Patients with ALS, Huntington's, or Alzheimer's cannot mount a similar protest—we are physically silenced and immobilized, unable to "seize the FDA." This vulnerability places a unique moral obligation on our leaders to act proactively on behalf of the voiceless. The new FDA leadership now arrives with bold promises of change, posing a question that haunts everyone touched by an untreatable neurological disease: Will this time be different? Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vows to "sweep away barriers" and to "figure out new ways ... of accelerating approvals for drugs and treatments that treat rare diseases." FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has several times asked why it takes 10 years for a drug to get to market and proposes a "conditional approval" pathway based on a "plausible mechanism." Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) Director Vinay Prasad promised to "take action at the first sign of promise for rare diseases." For the ALS community, these words are now a crisis of credibility. In a disease that has a median survival of 2-3 years, we are asking for regulatory flexibility for a treatment that began its Phase 1 trial in 2011 and was granted FDA Fast Track designation in 2014. As a petitioner on the July 3 citizens' petition for a stem cell therapy known as NurOwn, my community has presented the FDA with a clear test. Ultimately, we are seeking accelerated approval based on new, unprecedented survival data from an expanded access program—data that exceeds the extension of survival of many approved cancer therapies. But the initial request is simpler: invite the sponsor to resubmit its application for a full review. Ours is a request for due process to give a voice to the voiceless—the lowest possible bar for the Trump administration to demonstrate its promised flexibility. A clear, bipartisan solution has already failed once. The Neuroscience Center of Excellence Act, introduced in 2021 to replicate oncology's success for brain disease, stalled in committee. It is time for our leaders to find the political will that has been so catastrophically absent. Congress must immediately revive and pass the Neuroscience Center of Excellence Act. The FDA, in turn, must match its leaders' promises with action by granting our petition a review. The science is poised for breakthroughs, but it is being shackled by a broken system. For those of us on a deadline, this is not a policy debate. It is a death sentence. Awaken now, before this silent storm engulfs us all. The voiceless can't wait. Dr. Shahriar Minokadeh, a former anesthesiologist trained at Johns Hopkins and pain management at UC San Diego, types via an eye-gaze device. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Axios
2 days ago
- Axios
After 60,000 miles running, this 75-year-old is ready for an ultramarathon
For more than four decades now, Tom Carr, a retired school counselor living in Hillsborough, has been recording the results of his near-daily runs. Turns out you can get pretty far by the time you're 75. Why it matters: Carr is a testament to the power of consistency and the longevity that can come from showing up every day without fail. Carr has now run more than 60,000 miles in his lifetime, all of them outside in the elements and all of them, he says, are vital to keeping his head on straight. Driving the news: Later this month, Carr will attempt his longest run yet — a 100-mile ultramarathon that most people wouldn't dream of completing, let alone in their eighth decade. The race, called A Race for the Ages in Tennessee, will give him exactly 75 hours to finish the 100 miles. It starts Aug. 28. Zoom in: Carr is one of the founding members of the Hillsborough Running Club, embracing the sport before it was a mainstream pursuit and helping organize races in Orange County. He chalks up his longevity to the power of consistency and to what he believes are the therapeutic effects of breathing in fresh air and listening to the soundscapes of the woods. He also never embarks on a run without eating a peanut butter and jelly bagel. (The jelly has to be sugar-free Smuckers; the peanut butter could be anything.) No matter what, he never listens to music or a podcast, which he believes can stop the flow of creative thoughts when running alone. For years, he carried a notebook to jot down all the thoughts that would race through his mind on the run. Without that, he says, he would never have been able to write 15 books on education issues. Yes, but: Running has also helped manage some of the hardest moments of Carr's life, including losing Carlye, his partner of 53 years, last year to the effects of Alzheimer's. Carr's hoping to use the 100-mile race to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association in her honor. "If I wasn't able to get out of the house and go running, I don't know how I would have survived that difficult period of time," Carr said of his wife's health. "I think about her a whole lot when I'm when I'm out on the run, and I'm still struggling with it", he added. "With Alzheimer's, you know, her reasoning and her thinking, it wasn't there, so we didn't have any closure." Now, in a period where research funding is being cut, Carr believes the "Alzheimer's Association needs all the help they can get." What they're saying: One unexpected benefit of never giving up the daily habit of running, according to Carr, is that he is finally winning awards at races he competes in. While he never had blazing speed in his most athletic years — he describes himself as slow and steady — Carr now routinely finishes at the top of his age group when he runs a marathon or 5k. "There's not a lot of people in the 75 and up age group," he said, laughing. "I didn't win any medals or trophies or nothing until I was in my 60s!"
