An overlooked front door to brain health

Photo: Filepic/The Star

WHEN we think about Alzheimer’s disease, we usually think about memory, ageing and the brain. We do not usually think about bleeding gums. But the mouth may deserve a place in that conversation.

Around the world, researchers are paying closer attention to the relationship between gum disease, oral bacteria, and cognitive decline. The science is still developing, and it would be wrong to say gum disease alone causes Alzheimer’s. But the link is important enough for public health leaders, clinicians, and families to take seriously.