Interrelation between periodontal and Alzheimer’s disease: Integrative review

Abstract

Introduction: Studies point to a two-way relationship between Periodontal Disease (PD) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD), based on the inflammatory reaction, since these pathologies have a similar systemic inflammatory profile. The link between PD and AD can be explained by the spread of infectious or inflammatory agents that migrate from the oral cavity to the brain. Objective: To understand the relationship between Periodontal Disease and the development of Alzheimer's Disease. Methodology: A bibliographic search was carried out in the MEDLINE databases (PubMed), without restriction of dates, with text in English and Portuguese, applying the descriptors "Alzheimer's disease"; "Periodontal Disease"; "Microbiota"; "Alzheimer disease"; "Periodontal disease"; "Microbiota" isolated or combined using the Boolean operators "and" and "or". Results: 35 publications were obtained, using the keywords presented in the work. Following inclusion and exclusion criteria, 21 studies were used for careful reading and categorization. Conclusion: The literature supports the existence of a bidirectional relationship between periodontal disease and Alzheimer's disease, which occurs through the presence of a similar inflammatory mechanism. However, it is pertinent to develop new, more rigorous clinical studies to better understand the association of these diseases, which is essential for the development of more effective prevention and treatment strategies for patients suffering from both conditions. Early identification of these interrelationships can lead to a better quality of life for patients and a reduction in associated health conditions.