Gurav Abhijit N
Department of Periodontics, Tatyasaheb Kore Dental College & Research Centre.
Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2014 Mar-Apr;60(2):173-80. doi: 10.1590/1806-9282.60.02.015.
Alzheimer's disease is the preeminent cause and commonest form of dementia. It is clinically characterized by a progressive descent in the cognitive function, which commences with deterioration in memory. The exact etiology and pathophysiologic mechanism of Alzheimer's disease is still not fully understood. However it is hypothesized that, neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is marked by salient inflammatory features, characterized by microglial activation and escalation in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the affected regions. Studies have suggested a probable role of systemic infection conducing to inflammatory status of the central nervous system. Periodontitis is common oral infection affiliated with gram negative, anaerobic bacteria, capable of orchestrating localized and systemic infections in the subject. Periodontitis is known to elicit a "low grade systemic inflammation" by release of pro-inflammatory cytokines into systemic circulation. This review elucidates the possible role of periodontitis in exacerbating Alzheimer's disease. Periodontitis may bear the potential to affect the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Periodontitis shares the two important features of Alzheimer's disease namely oxidative damage and inflammation, which are exhibited in the brain pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Periodontitis can be treated and hence it is a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
阿尔茨海默病是痴呆症的首要病因和最常见形式。其临床特征为认知功能逐渐下降，始于记忆力减退。阿尔茨海默病的确切病因和病理生理机制仍未完全明确。然而，据推测神经炎症在阿尔茨海默病的发病机制中起关键作用。阿尔茨海默病具有显著的炎症特征，表现为小胶质细胞活化以及受累区域促炎细胞因子水平升高。研究表明全身感染可能导致中枢神经系统的炎症状态。牙周炎是一种常见的口腔感染，与革兰氏阴性厌氧菌有关，能够在个体中引发局部和全身感染。已知牙周炎通过向全身循环释放促炎细胞因子引发“低度全身炎症”。本综述阐明了牙周炎在加重阿尔茨海默病方面可能发挥的作用。牙周炎可能有影响阿尔茨海默病发病和进展的潜力。牙周炎具有阿尔茨海默病的两个重要特征，即氧化损伤和炎症，这在阿尔茨海默病的脑病理学中有所体现。牙周炎可以得到治疗，因此它是阿尔茨海默病的一个可改变的危险因素。
