Defy Dementia™ Episode 29: Defy Dementia – Healthy Mouth, Healthy Brain
Everything is connected. Like the connection between oral hygiene and brain health. In this episode of Defy Dementia, we’ll join Dr. James Noble, Professor of Neurology and author of Navigating Life with Dementia, as he discusses how poor oral health and inflammation could increase dementia risk, and just how important oral health care is for brain health. We’ll also follow 65-year-old Ben Schaub, a journalist specializing in science and technology – and a Defy Dementia producer – as he shares how he keeps his brain healthy by taking care of his oral health. Tune in at defydementia.org, or anywhere you get your podcasts.
Key Messages:
- Gum infections are common, especially in older adults.
- Maintaining healthy teeth and gums benefits your overall health and may reduce your dementia risk.
Key actions
- Brush and floss daily.
- If available, visit your dental professional for regular cleaning and check-ups or if you are experiencing issues with your teeth or gums.
Resources
Learn more about our guests
Dr. James Noble is a Professor of Neurology in the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He was the first to discover an association between the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivitis and impaired memory and leads a project exploring the relationship of oral health conditions and cognitive trajectories. He is also the author of Navigating Life with Dementia.
Ben Schaub is an award-winning science journalist and Defy Dementia’s writer and chase producer. Ben researched episodes of CBC’s The Nature of Things and produced interviews and documentaries for Discovery Channel Canada's Daily Planet.