Link between Alzheimer’s disease and periodontal bacteria gains traction

Written by Sharon Salt (Editor)

A recently published study in Science Advances has suggested a link between periodontal bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although periodontal bacteria have been indicated in the development and progression of AD before, this new study has hit the headlines due to implications that gingipain (a toxic protease released by the bacteria) inhibitors may be used to treat P. gingivalis and neurodegeneration in AD. Within the study, investigators from Cortexyme (CA, USA) examined brain tissue from people with Alzheimer’s and compared them with healthy control subjects. The findings revealed that the bacteria were detected in almost every sample they...

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