Dentistry
Study links gum disease to greater white matter changes in the brain
Heather Vogel Imethibitishwa ukweli
Research published October 22, 2025, in Neurology® Open Access reports that older adults with gum disease had more white matter hyperintensities—a marker of tissue damage—than peers without gum disease, even after accounting for other risks.
Study ties cavities and gum disease to higher stroke risk
Heather Vogel Imethibitishwa ukweli
People with both cavities and gum disease had an 86% higher risk of ischemic stroke than those with healthy mouths, according to research published October 22, 2025, in Neurology Open Access. The two-decade study of 5,986 adults linked poor oral health to higher rates of major cardiovascular events, while emphasizing the findings show association, not causation.
Exercise plus omega-3 curbs tooth root inflammation in rat study
Heather Vogel Imethibitishwa ukweli
A peer‑reviewed study in rats reports that moderate exercise combined with omega‑3 supplementation improved immune markers and limited bone loss in chronic apical periodontitis, an inflammatory infection at the tooth’s root tip often arising from untreated decay. The authors and research backers stress that human trials are needed to confirm clinical relevance.