Our oral and cardiovascular health are key factors influencing our overall health. Scott Findlay, a PhD Student and Associate Lecturer in the Division of Sport, Exercise and Health at the University of West Scotland, is carrying out a study to find out if people with Alzheimer’s have a different oral microbiome than those without.

 

What is the OMNi Brain Health study investigating?

“OMNi stands for Oral Microbiome and Nitrates, so it’s about the connection between the foods we eat and how it impacts our bodies, with a key focus on brain health. We are interested in 2 key things; a molecule called nitric oxide and the oral microbiome. So, the study will see if there are differences in these factors between people over 65 living with Alzheimer’s disease and healthy participants.”

Why has our oral health and cardiovascular health been linked to Alzheimer’s disease? Has there been any past research?

“Our oral and cardiovascular health is linked to our brain health through nitric oxide. This is a tiny molecule in our bodies with a huge role in keeping our bodies and brain healthy. It helps our blood vessels relax and widen. This process is called vasodilation. It improves circulation and helps regulate blood pressure. 

“It’s also related to the brain’s ability to strengthen and weaken connections, which is vital for learning and memory. This is produced naturally in the body in the cells lining our blood vessels, but the efficiency of this process declines as we age. So, it’s thought that with such an essential role in the body, including brain health, a decline in nitric oxide levels could contribute to reduced blood flow and increased inflammation. These are both linked to cognitive decline and dementia. 

“Another source of nitric oxide is through our diet. When we eat foods, like beetroot or spinach, the beneficial bacteria living on our tongue helps convert this into nitric oxide. This process depends on the bacteria being there, and gum disease can disrupt the healthy bacteria.

“The bacteria involved in gum disease and other oral diseases have also been linked to dementia. It’s thought that these cause an immune reaction, which causes inflammation in the brain. So, if nothing else, the outcome of this should be a reminder of how important it is to look after your mouth and teeth.”

The study is using a mobile lab which allows research to take place at different locations. How is it being used and why is it being used?

“We found that people were unable or unwilling to come into the lab for testing, so we made changes meaning that we could go directly to them. This means that more people are able to take part and a lot of the burden of participation has been removed. Since making this change, all the participants have chosen the home testing option. So, it’s great that we are able to be more accommodating for participants.”

What does the study hope to find?

“We hope to find out if there is a difference in levels of nitric oxide and oral microbiomes between people living with Alzheimer’s disease and healthy volunteers. There have been some similar studies done before. For example, looking at nitric oxide or the oral microbiome in dementia, but never both of them together. One of the key ways we can produce nitric oxide is through our oral microbiome, so it’s really important that they get measured together.”

What do participants do when they take part in the study?

“Before meeting volunteers, we’ll ask you to complete a short online questionnaire and a 3-day food diary. We will also carry out some testing, including a swab of your tongue and mouth to collect bacteria and saliva. We will also carry out blood tests and a pulse-wave test, which gives insight into your cardiovascular health..”

How has Join Dementia Research helped to support your study?

“I’ve used Join Dementia Research as my primary recruitment method and it’s been great to see how many people are interested in taking part in research. The matching system means that I don’t need to trawl through pages and pages of records to make sure they meet the requirements. Potential participants can also show if they are interested or not. This means that you are matched with people who want to take part in dementia research.”

What would you say to other researchers about using Join Dementia Research?

“It’s definitely worth giving it a go. I’ll be using it again for my next research trial. The ability to set geographic boundaries means you can find people in a specific target area making your life that much easier.”

Could you use Join Dementia Research to help recruit to your study? Visit our ‘Researchers’ page for more information.