Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of dementia. Roughly seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, with this number expected to roughly triple by 2050. Dementia is a complex and multifactorial set of illnesses, and effective strategies to mitigate the risk of developing dementia, or treating it once it occurs, remain one of the most challenging undertakings in the medical field.
Genetic factors and aging both play important roles in the onset of dementia, and many environmental risk factors are known to increase the risk of dementia. Exposure to metals and the biotoxins produced by bacteria, viruses and molds can contribute to the pathophysiology and cognitive decline associated with dementia.
Bacterial infections that research has linked to dementia include pneumonia, syphilis, Lyme, many oral and gut bacteria. The body responds to infections by mounting an inflammatory response. In the short term, inflammation is a protective response that helps with healing. With prolonged infection, however, inflammation leads to tissue damage. This is particularly true in the brain, where inflammation leads to amyloid plaque deposition and neurofibrillary tangles, the fundamental pathologies associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
We all brush our teeth every day, but we don’t often think of the bacteria in our mouths. As soon as we put food into our mouths, bacteria in our saliva start breaking down that food into sugars and proteins. There are upwards of 700 different types of microorganisms in the mouth, and a balance of population levels is crucial not only to a healthy body but also a healthy mind. P. gingivalis, which when uncontrolled, can lead to gum disease or gingivitis, is a primary organism in many forms of oral disease. At high levels, it spreads from the mouth to the blood and eventually the brain, leading to chronic inflammation.
Similarly, our stomachs and intestines harbor a wide array of bacteria. There is vast research currently being done on the gut-brain connection, and it has been well established that the gut and brain communicate with each other both physically and chemically. Research has shown that the gut microbiomes of people with symptomatic Alzheimer’s differ from the microbiomes of healthy people of the same age. Similar to oral bacteria, it is thought that some bacteria can cause inflammation in the gut, which can spread to the blood and eventually to the brain.
Viruses such as influenza, herpes, varicella-zoster (which causes chickenpox and shingles) also lead to inflammatory responses that can affect the entire body, including the brain. Viruses are unique in that many of them, like herpes and varicella, can lay dormant within the nervous system and at seemingly random times flare up, causing symptoms. This indicates their ability to lead to nervous system inflammation, which can ultimately damage the brain. Similarly, chronic exposure to different types of mold lead to chronic inflammation. Many of us living in older homes are at high risk for mold exposure.
At the Memory Center in Englewood, we are highly aware of the connection between chronic inflammation and potential for the development of dementia. Modifiable risk factors for dementia are those we can act upon early to minimize the risk of disease progression. We implement a comprehensive review, aiming to identify all potential risk factors, both genetic and environmental, to intervene early and give people the best chance for success. For instance, we do all-encompassing bloodwork to look for signs of inflammation and chronic infection. We also work with a specially-trained nutritionist to optimize gut health. Our highly trained staff of physicians and technicians will work tirelessly to give you and your loved ones the most broad, compassionate care possible.
Call 201-947-4777 for more information today.
