Gingivitis May Raise the Stakes for Brain Health
A long-term Finnish study suggests severe gingivitis and periodontitis may increase both the risk of developing a cerebral artery aneurysm and the likelihood that it will rupture. Dental caries, however, was not linked to aneurysm risk, placing the spotlight squarely on periodontal health.
Diseases of the tooth-supporting tissues may have consequences far beyond the oral cavity, according to a recent Finnish study that followed patients for more than a decade. Researchers found that people with widespread gingivitis or severe periodontitis were more likely to have cerebral artery aneurysms, and more likely to experience a rupture, than those with healthier gingiva.
Cerebral aneurysms affect an estimated 2% to 3% of adults and can lead to life-threatening subarachnoid hemorrhage if they rupture. While smoking and hypertension are known risk factors, many patients have no clear explanation for why aneurysms develop. This study adds periodontal disease to the list of possible contributors Notably, the analysis found no association between dental caries and aneurysm risk. Blood samples from aneurysm patients also showed immune responses to periodontal pathogens, supporting a possible link between chronic oral inflammation and vascular damage. Click here to read more.
