Oral biofilms and dementia version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Role of periodontal/endodontic pathogens in the development of the sporadic form of Alzheimer’s disease
IRAS ID
249743
Contact name
S.K. Singhrao
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester Metropolitan University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Alzheimer’s disease places an increasing burden upon society and healthcare budgets. Without an effective treatment, the way forward is to prevent the disease onset. Alzheimer’s disease is characterised by a build-up of two abnormal proteins. These are amyloid-beta and tiny bundles of an abnormal form of tau protein. Although amyloid beta in Alzheimer’s disease, is produced by human cells, but it is indistinguishable from bacterial amyloid. Recently research likened Alzheimer’s disease amyloid plaques to a community of heterogeneous consortium of bacterial biofilms. Gum disease doubles the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease within 10 years from the time of its diagnosis. So improving oral hygiene across the population may result in reducing the incidence of Alzheimer's disease.
If bacteria infect the pulp tissues, inside the tooth, a dentist will carry out root canal treatment. This involves drilling into the tooth, disinfecting the root canals and sealing them with a filler material. Occasionally the infected tooth has to be extracted. The extracted tooth is a human waste product destined for disposal. We want to examine the biofilm stuck to the outside of the tooth and within the root canal of these extracted teeth for Alzheimer’s disease related proteins from a class of bacterial proteins.
The laboratory investigation will take place at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). The researcher will ask NHS dental practices for their participation. If yes, the researcher will provide training and information sheets and consent forms to the dental team to recruit patients, undergoing tooth extraction because of endodontic infection. The dentist will ask participants if they want to donate their extracted tooth, to research. The research team will have access to patient’s limited information (age, gender, ethnicity, full capacity to consent) only. The project is funded by PreViser award from the Oral and Dental Research Trust, 2018.REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
19/NI/0019
Date of REC Opinion
6 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion