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Recent research published in Neurology proposes a significant connection between oral health and brain health, highlighting that proper care of teeth and gums may play a role in improving brain health beyond oral hygiene.
The study, led by Cyprien Rivier, MD, MS, from the Department of Neurology at Yale University School of Medicine, delved into the association between oral health and neuroimaging markers of white matter injury among middle-aged adults without a history of stroke or dementia.
The observational study examined 40,175 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank, all without stroke or dementia history, who underwent brain MRI between 2014 and 2016. Participants with poor oral health, defined as having dentures or loose teeth, displayed concerning health trends, including a higher prevalence of various medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and a history of smoking.
The research revealed a strong correlation between poor oral health and several neuroimaging markers indicative of white matter injury. Specifically, those with poor oral health exhibited a 9% increase in white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume, a recognized marker of silent cerebrovascular disease. Additionally, diffusion tensor imaging metrics showed a 10% change in aggregate fractional anisotropy (FA) score and a 5% change in aggregate mean diffusivity (MD) score, signifying white matter disintegrity.
Genetic analyses using Mendelian randomization further supported these associations, showing that individuals genetically predisposed to poor oral health had significant alterations in neuroimaging markers, suggesting a potential causal relationship between oral health and brain health.
The study’s findings underscore the importance of oral health beyond oral hygiene, suggesting its relevance in brain health and cognitive outcomes. According to accompanying editorial authors from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, these discoveries could pave the way for interventions aimed at improving oral health to benefit brain health significantly.
Recognizing the global impact of oral diseases—largely preventable and affecting billions of people—the study emphasizes the potential public health implications of promoting better oral care practices.
Funding for the research was provided by various organizations, including the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and the Neurocritical Care Society Research Fellowship, with no reported conflicts of interest among the study authors and editorialists.
