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Description

There is already evidence that neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease may have an inflammatory cause. It is also known that chronic inflammation of the gums (periodontitis) caused by bacteria can exacerbate common diseases (such as diabetes mellitus) and make them more difficult to treat. The transmission of these effects is primarily mediated by periodontal bacteria, of which Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Tannerella forsythia and Treponema denticola have been extensively studied and are described as key pathogens of periodontitis. 

Although Alzheimer's disease has been more intensively studied for such interactions, the present clinical study is dedicated to the reciprocal influence of Parkinson's disease (PD) and the oral cavity. The relevance of neuroinflammation as a potential key factor in the pathogenesis of PD is becoming increasingly important, especially in relation to the pentose phosphate cycle. In this context, bacterial lipopolysaccharides are being discussed as a possible cause of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase dysfunction. These toxins are released by anaerobic gram-negative bacteria, which are considered key pathogens in periodontitis. In our own preliminary work, we have shown that people with motor impairment and severe Parkinson's disease, as well as those with mild motor impairment, have impaired glycose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase and that inflammation and periodontal pathogens can be detected in their saliva. In contrast, controls with no pathological findings had no oral inflammatory markers and no periodontal pathogens in their saliva and had normal serum enzyme activity. A link between neurodegenerative processes and oral or periodontal inflammation has not been investigated in PD. The aim is to screen Parkinson's patients (for whom neurological characterisation and serum are available) for the presence of periodontitis.

Contact

Frau Dr. Marina Rupper-Junck
Telefone: 06421/58 - 65299
Telefax: 06421/58 - 67055
marina.ruppert@

* for a complete mail address please add "uni-marburg.de".