Mouth Mircobes and Your Brain
New research suggests that harmful mouth bacteria may contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease. Scientists in South Korea found that Streptococcus mutans, a common bacterium linked to dental cavities, can migrate from the mouth to the gut, where it produces compounds capable of entering the bloodstream and affecting the brain. These bacterial byproducts were shown to damage dopamine-producing neurons involved in movement.
In animal studies, this process triggered brain inflammation, motor impairment and the buildup of alpha synuclein, a protein strongly associated with Parkinson’s disease. The findings provide a biological explanation for how changes in the oral gut microbiome may influence brain health and neurodegeneration.
The study was led by researchers from POSTECH, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine and Seoul National University College of Medicine. The results suggest that maintaining good oral and gut health may play a role in protecting the brain and reducing neurological disease risk.
Source: Nature Communications
This article is featured in Wellbeing Magazine 222
