The effect of chronic periodontitis on serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in Alzheimer disease

Abstract

Background: Despite the outbreak in dental science, oral and dental complications in Alzheimer
are of the unsolved problems. It is assumed that tumor necrosis factor-α, which is a key factor in
Alzheimer, has a relation with periodontal complications in patients with Alzheimer disease. The
present study evaluated the effect of chronic periodontitis on serum levels of tumor necrosis
factor-α in Alzheimer disease.
Materials and Methods: This case-control study was performed on 80 patients with Alzheimer
disease seeking medical care at Nour Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. Eighty patients with Alzheimer disease
between 40 and 70 years old attended this study. Forty had chronic periodontitis (case group), and
40 patients had healthy periodontium (control group). Blood sample was taken, and serum levels of
tumor necrosis factor-α were measured by means of an ELISA Reader device. Independent T-Test
was used to analyze data, and P < 0.05 was considered signifi cant.
Results: The mean of tumor necrosis factor-α was 749.1 ng/μL in case group and 286.8 ng/μL in
control group. Independent t-test showed that the mean of tumor necrosis factor-α in patients
with Alzheimer and periodontitis was approximately three folds higher than the patients only with
Alzheimer, and this difference was statistically signifi cant (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it seems that there is a difference
between serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α in patient with Alzheimer and chronic
periodontitis and patients with Alzheimer disease and healthy periodontium. Tumor necrosis
factor-α level in serum may act as a diagnostic marker of periodontal disease in patients
with Alzheimer disease
Key Words: Alzheimer disease, chronic periodontitis, tumor necrosis factor-alpha