Association of periodontitis and oral microbiomes with Alzheimer's disease: A narrative systematic review

Background/purpose: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of dementia. The etiology for AD includes age, genetic susceptibility, neuropathology, and infection. Periodontitis is an infectious and inflammatory disease which mainly causes alveolar bone destruction and tooth loss. The evidence of a link between AD and periodontitis remains controversial. Thus far, studies reviewing the association between AD and periodontal disease have been insufficient from the viewpoint of the oral microbiome. The aim of this review was to focus on studies that have explored the relationship between the oral microbiome and AD development by using the next-generation sequencing technique. Materials and methods: A comprehensive electronic search of MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted. The keywords included dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, periodontitis, periodontal disease, and oral microbiome. Results: This review included 26 articles based on the eligibility criteria. Epidemiologic researches and post-mortem studies showed that the presence of periodontitis is associated with cognitive decline, suggesting a possible role of periodontal pathogens in the pathogenesis of AD. The reported microbiome was inconsistent with those in gene sequencing studies. Nevertheless, Gram-negative species may be possible candidates. Conclusion: This review suggests that periodontal infection is associated with AD. The contributing microbiome remains unconfirmed, possibly because of different microbiome sampling sites or methods. Additional large-scale studies with periodontal intervention and longitudinal follow-up are warranted to clarify the relationship between periodontal disease and AD. (C) 2022 Association for Dental Sciences of the Republic of China. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

This review explores the relationship between the oral microbiome and the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous studies have provided insufficient evidence for the association between periodontal disease and AD. However, epidemiological and post-mortem studies suggest that periodontitis may be associated with cognitive decline. The results of microbiome studies are inconsistent, but Gram-negative species may be potential pathogens. Additional large-scale studies are needed to clarify the relationship between periodontal disease and AD.