Gum Disease Directly Linked to Accelerated Dementia Risk Through Brain Inflammation

What was said

"The links between dental inflammation and brain aging and whether, you know, gum disease is contributory to risk of dementia. Sounds slightly outlandish when you first think about it. And we've talked mostly about the psychiatric disorders of, let's say, children, adolescents, and adults. But I think we need to also think hard about the role of inflammation in brain aging and how inflammation in the brain can accelerate dementia."

Bullmore reveals emerging evidence linking gum disease to increased dementia risk through inflammatory pathways. He explains that inflammation from periodontal disease becomes systemic, reaching the brain and accelerating cognitive decline. This connection has been missed because dentists and medical doctors operate in separate silos with no communication between their practices.