MySmile, led by Nicola West, Professor in Restorative Dentistry at Bristol Dental School, in collaboration with Elizabeth Coulthard, Professor of Cognitive Neurology at Bristol Medical School: Translational Health Sciences (THS) and neurologist at North Bristol NHS Trust, is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
The research team believe Alzheimer’s disease might be linked to oral health and certain bacteria found in the mouth (oral bacteria) and that looking after teeth and gums could make a difference.
The team will test the importance of teeth and gums by inviting people with very early changes to their thinking and memory to take part in the study. Participants will be assessed for their oral health, and eligible individuals will be asked to take part in the trial to see if improved dental care and oral hygiene can slow down the progression of dementia.
The study is for people aged 60 and over who have early signs of change – known as mild cognitive impairment – or with diagnosed early-stage Alzheimer’s dementia. The research team believe that these individuals are the most likely to benefit from enhanced dental care and oral hygiene. The challenge, however, is to find people in these early stages, because not everyone with changes in their thinking and memory have a diagnosis and so may not yet be known to their local health care services.