Gum disease has not been proven to cause Alzheimer’s disease. Research has found traces of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), the bacterium behind chronic gum disease, in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s, and poor oral health has long been associated with dementia. But it remains unclear whether gum disease helps cause Alzheimer’s, results from it, or simply shares risk factors with it.
What the 2019 Study Found
A study sponsored by Cortexyme, a San Francisco biotech company, was published in Science Advances in January 2019. Researchers working with labs in the United States, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia examined brain tissue from deceased patients with confirmed Alzheimer’s disease. They found gingipains (toxic enzymes produced by Pg) in more than 90% of the samples, and detected Pg DNA in the spinal fluid of living patients with Alzheimer’s.
In follow-up experiments, mice given an oral Pg infection developed the bacteria in their brains, along with increased production of amyloid beta, a component of the plaques associated with Alzheimer’s. The authors said more research was needed before drawing firm conclusions.
What Happened Next: The Clinical Trial
Cortexyme tested a drug designed to block gingipains, atuzaginstat, in a Phase II/III trial of 643 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. In late 2021 the company reported that the drug did not meet its main goals for improving cognition and daily function, though a subgroup with confirmed Pg infection showed slower decline. In 2022 the FDA placed a clinical hold on the drug after liver-related side effects.
The link between gum disease and Alzheimer’s remains an active area of research. Meanwhile, good oral hygiene and regular dental care are sensible for overall health.
Currently, in many areas of the world, experts in the field of regenerative medicine are using stem cell therapy to successfully treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
At the Stem Cells Transplant Institute, we use umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
We have developed a two-day treatment combining umbilical cord stem cell therapy with powerful antioxidants and ozone therapy to enhance and maximize results.
The advantages of therapy at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute Include:
- Umbilical cord stem cells
- Umbilical cord stem cells are young and more adaptable
- Umbilical cord stem cells are free from viruses and bacteria
- Umbilical cord stem cells divide much more rapidly
- Powerful antioxidants and ozone therapy
- Increase potency of stem cells
- Improve stem cell differentiation
- Enhances the immune system
- Promotes T-cell formation
- Controls inflammation
- Decreases muscle damage
- Reduces recovery time
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- Maintains cellular health
- Fights infection and helps prevent disease
- Helps detoxify the liver
Aging and age-related diseases are the result of aging stem cells. For maximum results from stem cell therapy it is better to use young, agile and more adaptable cells. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of stem cell therapy at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute.
Journal Reference:
- Stephen S. Dominy et al. Porphyromonas gingivalis in Alzheimer’s disease brains: Evidence for disease causation and treatment with small-molecule inhibitors. Science Advances, 2019
