Scientists Discover That One Cause of Alzheimer's Disease May Actually Be Coming From Inside Your Mouth

But that's not all. The team of researchers also identified toxic enzymes called  gingipains in the brains of Alzheimer's patients , secreted by  P. gingivalis . These enzymes are known to  damage tissues  and cause inflammation,  two key phenomena  in the progression of the disease.

Cause or consequence? A question still open

While these findings are fascinating, they  do not yet allow us to conclude that there is a direct cause-and-effect relationship .  Does periodontitis promote the development of Alzheimer's, or does dementia lead to neglect of oral hygiene, thus increasing infections?

Dr Stephen Dominy, co-founder of the start-up Cortexyme, which led the study, remains cautious: "  Infectious agents have already been suspected in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease, but the evidence of causality remains to be confirmed.  "