The bacteria in your mouth and on your tongue may be linked to changes in brain function as you age, new research suggested.
The study, led by the University of Exeter, found that certain bacteria were associated with better memory and attention, while others were linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers identified two possible ways these bacteria may impact brain health. This includes harmful bacteria directly entering the bloodstream, potentially causing damage to the brain. Alternatively, an imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria can reduce the conversion of nitrate (abundant in vegetable-rich diets) to nitric oxide -a chemical crucial for brain communication and memory formation.
Individuals who had large numbers of the bacteria groups Neisseria and…