The Big Picture: Dr. Adriana Davis says, “Mom continues to be proven correct, brush your teeth and keep your gums healthy!”
in the news: New research from Tohoku University is showing that gum disease and tooth loss are linked to a decrease in the size of the hippocampus. This brain shrinkage was the largest for people who lost a lot of teeth or had gum disease and tooth loss
lead researcher, Dr. Yamaguchi stated: “These results highlight the importance of preserving the health of the teeth and not just retaining the teeth.”
The research continues to build on prior studies that’re showing that brain health could be influenced by many other variables that lead to the cause of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other conditions.
Will antibiotics fix all toothaches?
Doctor’s expert Insights about Teeth Health and Brain Health in Arkansas
Know this: “Poor dental health has been associated with poor brain health for some time now. So, I always ask my patients to keep an eye on their dental health. Though, to be clear, it’s not a 100% correlation. So, it’s important that you do other things as well as to ensure optimal brain health. This includes a healthy mind, body, and outlook! Go out, and make friends. Be social and try new things. These are proven ways to lengthen life and live more productively.” Dr. Puja Uppal, Family Medicine.
Next steps to take if you or someone in your life is worried about their brain health: If you’re over a certain age in Little Rock, you can get access to free online classes through programs like “Silver Sneakers.” (Visit Here)
Little Rock Health Alert
Tooth and Gum Disease Could Negatively Affect the Brain.
The Health Standard Newswire:
Living in Little Rock, the following health facts impact your dental health & brain health directly!
Did you know there were 1841.0 deaths from strokes in Arkansas in 2021?
13.4% of you in Pulaski County, over the age of 65, have lost all teeth.
22.3% of adults in Pulaski County, are depressed.
36.1% of people living in Pulaski County sleeping less than 7 hours per night.
18.2% of you in Pulaski County smoke.
All of these variables play an important role in your brain health.
Can gum disease affect the brain?
Health Standard Newswire: Neurology. July 2023. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000207579
“Although tooth loss and periodontitis have been considered risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, recent longitudinal researches have not found a significant association with hippocampal atrophy. Therefore, this study aims to clarify a longitudinal association between the number of teeth present (NTP) and hippocampal atrophy depending on the severity of periodontitis in a late middle-aged and older adult population.” (Study Source)
“In a late middle-aged and older cohort, fewer teeth were associated with a faster rate of left hippocampal atrophy in patients with mild periodontitis, whereas having more teeth was associated with a faster rate of atrophy in those with severe periodontitis. The importance of keeping teeth healthy is suggested.” (Ibid)
TheJournals neurology published the findings: Associations of Dental Health With the Progression of Hippocampal Atrophy in Community-Dwelling Individuals: The Ohasama Study (Read it Here)
The Health Standard Newswire
