A study from Japan finds that a common bacteria in the mouth is linked to more severe forms of multiple sclerosis and significant worsening of the neurological condition.
Scientists are discovering more and more evidence that severe gum disease (periodontitis) not only affect the mouth, but can also have serious consequences for central nervous system, through chronic inflammation.
Now, a new study from Hiroshima University in Japan, published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports, suggests that there is a Direct link between an oral bacteria and the severity of disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
What did the researchers discover?
The Japanese team found that multiple sclerosis patients who had high levels of the bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum in the mouth, a common bacterium in gum disease, had much more often moderate to severe disability.
This disability was measured using the standard EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale), which ranges from 0 to 10. Patients with high levels of this bacteria:
they had about 10 times more likely have a severe disability and 61.5% of them were in the moderate or severe disability category (EDSS ≥ 4), compared with only 18.6% in those who had low levels of this bacteria.
Why is this important?
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease harmful the protective sheath of nerves (myelin) and leads to serious neurological problems, including:
- muscle weakness,
- walking problems,
- vision disorders,
- severe fatigue and progressive disability.
The exact cause of MS is still unknown, but viral infections, smoking, vitamin D deficiency, and genetic predisposition are thought to play a role.
now, Chronic oral infections are emerging as a new potential factor for worsening the disease, Telegraph reports.
What is periodontitis?
Periodontitis is a chronic bacterial infection that:
- causes persistent inflammation in the gums,
- destroys the connective tissue and bone that support the teeth,
- and often ends with tooth loss.
This disease is very widespread in the world (affecting about 40–60% of people) and is already known to increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.
The "mouth-brain axis": a dangerous new connection?
Teacher Masahiro Nakamori from Hiroshima University Hospital explains: “While the gut microbiome has been extensively studied in multiple sclerosis, the role of the oral microbiome has remained largely unexplored. Since the mouth is an important source of chronic inflammation, understanding this connection may open new avenues for prevention and treatment.”
Researchers found that this connection it was not noticed to other similar neurological diseases such as: NMOSD (neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder) and MOGAD, which suggests that this The 'mouth-brain' axis may be specific to multiple sclerosis.
The "Bacteria-Bridge" That Connects the Mouth to the Brain
According to the professor Hiroyuki Naito, Fusobacterium nucleatum can act as a "Bacteria-bridge":
- connects bacterial communities in the dental biofilm,
- links oral inflammation to neurological deterioration.
Even after the researchers took into account factors such as age, duration of disease, number of relapses and type of multiple sclerosis, the connection remained very strong.
What does this mean for patients?
Scientists emphasize that Oral health care may not only be a dental issue, but also a neurological issue..
In the future, it will be studied whether periodontitis treatment and regular oral hygiene can slow the progression of multiple sclerosis or alleviate disability. /Telegraph/
