Quantitative evaluation of prodromal symptoms of synucleinopathy and neurotoxins from oral bacteria

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K07957
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52020:Neurology-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Ozawa Tetsutaro 新潟大学, 医歯学総合病院, 特任教授 (10377153)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: パーキンソン病 / αシヌクレイン / 口腔微生物 / 嗅覚障害 / 自律神経障害

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between the prodromal symptoms of synucleinopathy and neurotoxic functions of oral bacteria. We quantitatively evaluated the severity of hyposmia and autonomic dysfunction of patients with early stage of Parkinson's disease. We also measured the number of periodontopathic bacteria in the saliva in those Parkinson's disease patients.The results showed that the numbers of P. intermedia, P. gingivalis, T. denticola, and F. nucleatum in the saliva were significantly increased in patients with Parkinson's disease than those in control subjects. There were no correletion between the numbers of such periodontopathic bacteria in the saliva and the severity of hyposmia as well as autonomic dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Free Research Field

臨床神経学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、早期パーキンソン病患者の唾液中歯周病原細菌が明らかに増えている結果が得られた。今後は唾液中歯周病原細菌の増多とαシヌクレイン蓄積との関連性を検討する必要があると考えられた。パーキンソン病患者では発症早期においても、上肢の細かく素早い動きが障害されるため歯磨きが雑になり、口腔衛生の維持が困難になって歯周病原細菌が増えやすい環境になる可能性は大いにある。パーキンソン病の進行に伴ってさらに歯周病原細菌は増え続け、進行期には歯周病の増悪とさらには誤嚥性肺炎の重症化にもつながる可能性がある。今後は、歯周病原細菌がパーキンソン病患者の予後にどのような影響をもたらすかの検討が必要と考えられる。