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Introduction: Periodontal disease is a chronic, inflammatory bacterial dysbiosis that is associated with both Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Down syndrome. Methods: A total of 48 elderly cognitively normal subjects were evaluated for differences in subgingival periodontal bacteria (assayed by 16S rRNA sequencing) between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker groups of amyloid and neurofibrillary pathology. A dysbiotic index (DI) was defined at the genus level as the abundance ratio of known periodontal bacteria to healthy bacteria. Analysis of variance/analysis of covariance (ANOVA/ANCOVA), linear discriminant effect-size analyses (LEfSe) were used to determine the bacterial genera and species differences between the CSF biomarker groups. Results: At genera and species levels, higher subgingival periodontal dysbiosis was associated with reduced CSF amyloid beta (Aβ)42 (P = 0.02 and 0.01) but not with P-tau. Discussion: We show a selective relationship between periodontal disease bacterial dysbiosis and CSF biomarkers of amyloidosis, but not for tau. Further modeling is needed to establish the direct link between oral bacteria and Aβ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the levels of systemic markers for inflammation with parameters of periodontal diseases in older people. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a cohort that is being followed prospectively on the effects of aging and body composition on morbidity. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, and University of Tennessee, Memphis. One thousand one hundred thirty-one participants (mean age±standard deviation 72.7±2.8); 66% white and 50% male. Periodontal examination, including probing depth and attachment loss, was performed. Periodontal disease extent was divided into 0% of sites with probing depth of 6 mm or more, 1% to 10% of sites with probing depth of 6 mm or more and more than 10% of sites with probing depth of 6 mm or more. Subgingival plaque samples were collected from four molar teeth, and the levels of periodontal pathogens were determined using the benzoyl-DL-arginine-naphthylamide (BANA) test. Plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were measured in all participants. Assessments of risk factors associated with elevated levels of markers of systemic inflammation were also determined. Multiple regression analysis was employed to analyze the data. IL-6 levels were significantly higher in participants with more-extensive periodontal disease than in other participants. Periodontal disease extent was significantly associated with higher TNF-α plasma levels, controlling for established risk factors for elevated TNF-α levels. Participants with BANA-positive species had significantly higher CRP plasma levels when controlling for risk factors for elevated CRP levels. Periodontal disease and infection may be modifiable risk indicators for elevated levels of systemic inflammatory markers in older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the association between periodontal disease and weight loss in an elderly cohort. A longitudinal design was used with participants from the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) cohort study to determine the association between periodontal disease status and weight loss of at least 5% of baseline body weight over a period of 2 years. Participants were examined in research clinics in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Memphis, Tennessee. A randomly selected subset of 1,053 individuals from the Health ABC examination, aged 65 and older, ambulatory and community-dwelling at baseline. Periodontal disease was measured as mean pocket depth and attachment loss, extent (percentage) of pockets with at least 6 mm probing depth, extent of bleeding on probing, and tissue inflammation. In logistic regression models adjusting for variables that may explain weight loss, extent of periodontal pockets with at least 6 mm probing depth showed a significant association with weight loss (odds ratio=1.53, 95% confidence interval=1.32–1.77). Periodontal disease may be causally related to weight loss in the elderly and thus may increase risk of morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of electronic cigarette (e‐cigarette) smoking, especially its long‐term impact on oral health, is poorly understood. Here, we conducted a longitudinal clinical study with two study visits, 6 months apart, to investigate the effect of e‐cigarette use on the bacterial community structure in the saliva of 101 periodontitis patients. Our data demonstrated that e‐cigarette use altered the oral microbiome in periodontitis patients, enriching members of the Filifactor, Treponema, and Fusobacterium taxa. For patients at the same periodontal disease stage, cigarette smokers and e‐cigarette smokers shared more similarities in their oral bacterial composition. E‐cigarette smoking may have a similar potential as cigarette smoking at altering the bacterial composition of saliva over time, leading to an increase in the relative abundance of periodontal disease‐associated pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum. The correlation analysis showed that certain genera, such as Dialister, Selenomonas, and Leptotrichia in the e‐cigarette smoking group, were positively correlated with the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including IFN‐γ, IL‐1β, and TNF‐α. E‐cigarette use was also associated with elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as IFN‐γ and TNF‐α, which contribute to oral microbiome dysbiosis and advanced disease state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]