Periodontitis could affect functional connectivity in the brain leading to worsening of neuro psychiatric disorders – A hypothesis

Abstract

It is a well-known fact that periodontitis is the result of destruction of the tooth supporting structures caused primarily by oral dysbiosis of dental plaque biofilm ultimately leading to tooth loss. The condition is very common and several studies have ascertained the association of periodontitis with systemic conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, adverse pregnancy outcomes, Alzheimer’s disease, mental depression due to chronic low grade inflammatory state. Functional connectivity has been described as the temporal coincidence of spatially distant neurophysiological events including mental depression. With the available information literature, the present manuscript aims to hypothesize that a low-grade inflammatory state in periodontitis could alter functional connectivity relationships in different brain regions thereby could increase the risk and severity of mental depression in the affected individuals.