Surprising link between a diverse oral microbiome and better cognitive function in aging

In a recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health, and Aging, researchers determined the association between the oral microbiome and cognition among older United States (US) adults. Previous research has revealed a link between the gut microbiome and cognition performance, with the mouth cavity housing the second-largest microbial population in humans. However, the effect of the oral microbiota on cognition remains unknown. Oral microbial communities are crucial to physiological and immunological activities such as ambient chemical processing and detoxification, immune system maintenance, and disease prevention. Small-scale clinical investigations on the relationship between the oral microbiome and Alzheimer's disease have produced inconsistent results, with some reporting lower oral microbial diversity in AD patients and others not.