Mouth bacteria may raise risk of serious brain problems

A new study from researchers in Japan has found a possible link between gum disease and multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease where the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerve cells, called the myelin sheath, leading to communication problems between the brain and the body.

It was revealed from research that the common mouth bacterium called Fusobacterium nucleatum, may make symptoms of MS worse.

People with MS can suffer from muscle weakness, balance problems, and vision issues and while the exact cause of MS is unknown, many researchers and scientists believe it may be triggered by infections, vitamin deficiencies, smoking, or even genetic factors.

Many studies have looked at gut bacteria and how they might be involved in triggering or making MS worse.

But this new research turned attention to the bacteria in the mouth, especially the ones that are involved in gum disease.

Gum disease, medically known as periodontitis, is a long-term infection that causes inflammation and pain in the gums, affecting nearly half of the global population.

Severity of gum disease can lead to tooth loss and is also known to raise the risk of other diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.

In this study, scientists collected tongue coating samples from people with MS and two other similar diseases: neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). They wanted to see if the levels of certain oral bacteria were connected to how severe the diseases were.

They found that MS patients with high levels of Fusobacterium nucleatum in their mouth had more severe disability, as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).

These patients were also more likely to have other harmful bacteria in their mouth and surprisingly, this link was not found in patients with NMOSD or MOGAD suggesting that gum bacteria may have a specifically unique effect in multiple sclerosis.