Sometimes the news about Alzheimer's puts me in more of a skeptical mood than anything else.
I was going to write a post about all the recent articles reporting on a study involving sets of twins that found a possible link between gum disease and Alzheimer's disease.
The more I read though, the more I think the information from the study is so preliminary that there really isn't much news there.
Here's some examples why:
1) Articles reported that there was a "significant impact" or a "strong link" between gum disease and Alzheimer's disease. I think the way it was worded on the Alzheimer's Association website stated it best. The Alzheimer's Association referred to a "pattern" of risk factors that could account for one twin developing Alzheimer's. A "pattern" is a better word to use. A difference between the twins was found rather than a connection between gum disease and Alzheimer's.
2) According to the Alzheimer's "Bad Teeth" Link article on RedNova.com:
"Using background information about their health, they discovered a large number who had Alzheimer's had suffered with loose or missing teeth at an early age, which the researchers used as a crude indicator of gum disease."
A connection is only as good as it's weakest link. There must be a lot of reasons why someone would have loose or missing teeth that don't have to do with gum disease. And how many things can lead to gum disease?
3) More from the Alzheimer's Association website:
"The researchers found that no single risk factor could explain in all cases why one twin would become demented or why the twin sibling would not. However, they did discover several patterns. The twin with dementia was more likely to have had a stroke, periodontal disease earlier in life (an index of exposure to inflammation), and fewer years of education."
So many articles focused on gum disease but that was just one of the factors (or patterns) found.
This is more of a critique on the news than anything else. I'm sure there is a lot more to the study than what gets reported. Gum disease may turn out to be a significant factor in Alzheimer's disease. I guess the point of all this is: At this point in time, keep brushing your teeth but don't bet your future that doing so will give you anything more than healthy teeth.
On a personal note: My mother is 80 years old, still has all her own teeth and has rarely had so much as a cavity. She still developed Alzheimer's. There are so many factors involved and so much still to learn.
Link:
Alzheimer's Association
Healthy Gums May Help Fight Alzheimer's - WebMD.com
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