Dental Hygiene and Memory-Related Brain Diseases: How Taking Care of Your Teeth Can Prevent Alzheimer’s

2023-07-17 04:21:15

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

In detail, the study showed that the loss of a tooth in people who suffer from gum disease affects the memory area known as the “hippocampus”, which is located in the medial temporal part of the brain.

The scientists also found that the number of teeth and the amount of gum disease were associated with changes in the left hippocampus of the brain, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The study also indicates that people who suffer from mild gum disease and have fewer teeth, the size of their left hippocampus shrinks at a faster rate, equivalent to regarding one year of brain ageing.

For people 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 dental suffering from severe gum disease may be associated with brain shrinkage, and Satoshi Yamaguchi, a researcher at Tohoku University, recommended 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 gum recession and loosening of the teeth, so assessing the potential link to dementia is very important,” Yamaguchi added.

Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is a disease that affects cognitive function, memory and behaviour. It can make it difficult for people with it to perform daily activities and maintain their independence, leading to frustration, confusion, anxiety and loss of self-esteem.

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