ORAL HEALTH STATUS AND PERIODONTITIS IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE:A POPULATION-BASED, CASE-CONTROL STUDY FROM THE ZABUT AGING PROJECT

Aims. The aetiopathogenesis for Alzheimer's disease (AD) have not been defined, although inflammation within the brain is thought to play a role. Recent data suggest that peripheral infections contribute to the inflammatory state of central nervous system diseases, including cognitive impairment and dementia (1). Periodontitis (PD) is a prevalent, chronic infection involving the tissues supporting the teeth associated with gram negative, anaerobic bacteria capable of promoting local and systemic release of inflammatory mediators. Aim of the present study was to assess the oral health status and the prevalence/severity of PD in incident AD subjects evaluated during a population-based, 10-yea…