Inflamação bucal e neurodegeneração: explorando a relação entre periodontite e a doença de Alzheimer

Abstract

Introduction: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammation of the periodontal tissues, with widely documented systemic repercussions. Growing evidence suggests an association with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a prevalent neurodegenerative condition in aging populations. This review aims to analyze the mechanisms linking both conditions, focusing on inflammatory and infectious processes. Objective: To investigate, through an integrative review, the interrelationship between periodontitis and AD, exploring pathways and mechanisms of mutual influence in order to understand the impact of periodontitis on the progression of AD. Methodology: Studies were selected from the PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS) databases. The descriptors used were “Alzheimer disease,” “Periodontitis,” “Periodontal disease,” “Periodontal microbiota,” “Systemic inflammation,” and “Porphyromonas gingivalis,” combined with the Boolean operators “AND” and “OR,” according to each database. Data collection occurred between April and October 2024. Results: Of the 98 articles initially identified, 8 met the inclusion criteria. Findings support that periodontitis, by inducing chronic systemic inflammation, contributes to the progression of AD. Periodontal pathogens, such as P. gingivalis, appear to exacerbate neurodegeneration. Conclusion: Periodontitis is a modifiable risk factor, and its prevention and clinical management are relevant strategies in the integrated approach to Alzheimer’s disease.