A study recently publicized in Annals of Neurology, the American Neurological Associations official journal, showed the relationship of periodontitis and the danger of cerebrovascular disease, a brain dysfunction which can cause transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke.
The study was headed by Elizabeth Krall as well as the Boston University School of Dental Medicine, and Thomas Dietrich of the University of Birmingham School of Dentistry. The data analyzed by the study was taken from 1,137 healthy male volunteers who participated in the VA Normative Aging and Dental Longitudinal Study, a continuing study which started in the 1960s. In the study, a periodontist performed dental examinations every three years which included periodontal probing and full mouth X-rays.
The results revealed the relationship of TIA or stroke and the periodontal bone loss. This relationship was more evident among men aged 65 years old and below.
There are other possible ways which could clarify the relationship established in the ongoing study. There could also be indirect or direct effects of periodontitis and cerebrovascular disease, or some may have greater pro-inflammatory susceptibility which could add to the onset of both diseases.
The authors of the study noted that if periodontitis can cause cerebrovascular disease it could also be a risk factor due to its high prevalence as well as the strength of relationship in younger men. According to them, those who have periodontitis may also give less attention to their health as a whole. They concluded that: “Large epidemiologic studies using molecular and genetic approaches in various populations are necessary to determine the strength of the association between periodontitis and cerebrovascular disease and to elucidate its biologic basis.”
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