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Can better oral hygiene slow the progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer’s disease, even for a few years?

The question arises after a medical study last January established a link between Alzheimer’s disease and the bacteria that cause gum disease.

A new pilot study at the University of Maryland’s Claude D. Pepper Center will take a closer look at the connection between brain health and periodontal disease, or inflamed gums.

Origins of MCI

“Over the years, we’ve begun to learn more about cognitive impairment and the multiple reasons older individuals get it,” said Dr. Dr. Brajesh Lal, principal investigator of the study.

“There are a lot of ways older adults can reach states of cognitive impairment. One is impaired blood flow [through the carotid arteries] and another may be inflammation,” Dr. Lal said.

One of the most common sources of chronic inflammation in older individuals is periodontitis. Almost 70% of older adults have inflamed gums, a form of inflammation, which may be a culprit in Alzheimer’s disease.

That’s because inflammation throughout the body — including in the mouth, where unchecked bacteria can cause an immune-system response — can alter bacteria in the intestine.

“When our body reacts to these gut bacteria, it releases chemicals which potentially affect the brain,” Dr. Lal said.

The University of Maryland study will try to determine whether better dental health can help people with mild memory problems.

Volunteers needed

Now enrolling, the trial is seeking participants ages 65 to 100 who have two common conditions: inflamed gums and impaired short-term memory.

Participants will make several visits to the medical center, located at 22 S. Greene St., Baltimore, for baseline tests, including medical and dental exams. All dental treatments are free for a year.

One arm of the randomized study will receive standard dental care, and the other will receive intensive dental treatment.

Participants will visit the medical center every few months during the first year and/or until their gums become healthy. After that, they will return for baseline tests and a dental exam for the next two years.

The study will also check for plaque in the carotid arteries, which deliver oxygen-rich blood to the brain. Most people don’t know they have plaque buildup, but it is detectable with a doppler sonogram.

“The results of this pilot study could highlight periodontal disease as a modifiable, inflammatory risk factor for progression of mild cognitive impairment to dementia,” according to the study’s grant proposal. If the pilot study provides “proof of concept,” a larger study will be launched involving 10 to 15 universities and research centers.

Dr. Lal realizes this study won’t find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. But there’s a chance that treating periodontitis could delay the onset of dementia.

“If we can make even a small impact on it in a small group of people, that would be a big win,” he said.

Parking and travel expenses of participants will be reimbursed, and compensation up to $300 will be provided over the course of the three-year study.

For more information about the clinical trial, or to see if you qualify as a participant, call (410) 706-4775 or (410) 605-7000, ext. 55556.