United States: Adults with gum disease may be more likely to show signs of brain tissue injury, according to new research in Neurology Open Access, a journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
The study found that people with gum disease had a higher volume of white matter hyperintensities, tiny bright spots on brain scans that indicate damage to the white matter —the network of nerve fibres responsible for communication between different parts of the brain.
These brain changes have been associated with problems such as memory loss, poor balance, slower reasoning, and a higher risk of stroke. While the study does not prove that gum disease causes brain damage, it highlights a potential link between oral health and brain health.
Researchers examined 1,143 adults with an average age of 77. Of them, 800 had gum disease and 343 did not. Each participant underwent a dental exam and a brain scan to detect signs of cerebral small-vessel disease, damage to the brain’s tiny blood vessels. Those with gum disease had an average of 2.83 percent of their brain volume affected by white matter hyperintensities, compared to 2.52 percent in those without gum disease.
Participants were grouped based on the extent of brain changes. Among individuals with gum disease, 28 percent were in the highest category of white matter damage (over 21.36 cm³), while only 19 percent of those without gum disease fell into that category. After adjusting for age, sex, race, blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking, people with gum disease were found to be 56 percent more likely to have extensive white matter damage.
No association was found between gum disease and other brain changes linked to small vessel disease, such as cerebral microbleeds and lacunar infarcts. This indicates that the link may be specific to white matter damage.
The study author, Dr. Souvik Sen of the University of South Carolina stated that, “This study shows a link between gum disease and white matter hyperintensities, suggesting oral health may play a role in brain health that we are only beginning to understand. While more research is needed, these findings add to growing evidence that keeping your mouth healthy may support a healthier brain.”
Scientists believe chronic inflammation in the mouth could affect blood vessel health in the brain, but further research is needed to confirm how the two are connected. Since gum disease is preventable and treatable, the findings highlight the importance of regular dental care not only for oral health but possibly for long-term brain health as well.
One limitation of the study is that dental exams and brain scans were performed only once, making it difficult to see how the conditions progress over time. However, the results contribute to increasing evidence that oral health could play a bigger role in protecting the brain than previously thought.
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