A Relationship between periodontal disease and Alzheimer disease – literature review

Abstract

The aim of this study was to review the literature to look for evidence in the association between Alzheimer's disease and Periodontitis. The methodology used resulted in a search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases, through the articles published between May 2000 and May 2022. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is classified as a neurodegenerative condition, a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by the slow and progressive loss of one or more functions of the nervous system. Periodontal disease (PD) is an infectious and inflammatory disease that mainly causes alveolar bone destruction and tooth loss and it is estimated that between 20 and 50% of the general population may suffer from PD, of which 15-20% present severe forms. Inflammation plays a critical role in the onset and progression of both diseases. The conclusion of this review is that the literature studied shows that periodontal pathogens and pro-inflammatory cytokines contributed to the progression of the neurodegenerative process of Alzheimer's disease. However, more randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm the causal relationship of this association.

Keywords: Periodontal Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Dental Biofilm, Inflammatory Biomarkers.