There’s new evidence that not taking care of your gums may contribute to your risk of Alzheimer’s. It’s not much of a stretch when you consider that both involve plaques.
The link between gum disease and memory issues
Researchers from Cortexyme, Inc., a pharmaceutical company working on Alzheimer’s treatments, studied the role of a particular bacterium, called P. gingivalis, in mice. The same bacterium is found in people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Not surprising, the researchers found that mice with P. gingivalis has an increased production of beta-amyloid, a marker of the neurological disease, in their brain.
Upon studying gingipains, the toxic enzymes of the P. gingivalis bacterium, the researchers found a link between high gingipain levels and the presences of tau and ubiquitin, two proteins linked to Alzheimer’s.
Potential treatments
After creating a series of therapies to block the P. gingivalis gingipains, the researchers determined that COR388 was the most effective inhibitor. They used the COR388 to decrease the P. gingivalis, which decreased inflammation in the brain. The COR388 also stopped beta-amyloid from being produced. In addition, the compound protected neurons in the area of the brain that are primarily responsible for memory.
Existing trials have found that COR388 is showing some results in both people with Alzheimer’s and those who don’t have the disease. A larger clinical trial is in the works to test COR388 on people with mild to moderate forms of the disease.
The results of the study were published in the journal Science Advances.
“Despite significant funding and the best efforts of academic, industry and advocacy communities, clinical progress against Alzheimer’s has been frustratingly slow,” says study coauthor Casey Lynch. “The Science Advances publication sheds light on an unexpected driver of Alzheimer’s pathology—the bacterium commonly associated with chronic periodontal disease—and details the promising therapeutic approach Cortexyme is taking to address it with COR388.”
