Neglecting dental health can lead to early onset Alzheimer’s disease

A recent study from Tohoku University in Japan shows that paying attention to dental hygiene can help prevent memory-related brain diseases.

In detail, the study showed that tooth loss in people with gum disease affects a memory area called the hippocampus, located in the medial part of the brain.

Scientists have found that the number of teeth and the degree of gum disease are associated with changes in the brain’s left hippocampus associated with Alzheimer’s disease. People who suffer from mild gum disease and have fewer teeth, their left hippocampus shrinks faster in size, equivalent to one year of brain maturation.

For those with severe gum disease, the study found that having an extra tooth was associated with faster brain shrinkage in the same area of ​​the brain, equivalent to 1.3 years of brain aging.

The results of the study indicated that a tooth with severe gum disease may be associated with brain shrinkage, and Tohoku University researcher Satoshi Yamaguchi suggested the importance of maintaining gum health through regular visits to the dentist to control the development of gum disease. .

“Tooth loss and gingivitis can lead to gingival recession and loosening of teeth, so it is important to evaluate the possible link to dementia,” Yamaguchi added.

Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is a disease that affects cognitive function, memory, and behavior. It makes it difficult for people with it to perform daily activities and maintain independence, causing frustration, confusion, anxiety, and loss. Self-esteem.