Godos, Justyna and Caruso, Giuseppe and Mainas, Giuseppe and Micek, Agnieszka and Di Mauro, Andrea and Buccarello, Lucia and Martínez López, Nohora Milena and Frias-Toral, Evelyn and Giampieri, Francesca and Lehoczki, Andrea and Isola, Gaetano and Galvano, Fabio and Ungvari, Zoltan and Quiles, José L. and Battino, Maurizio and Grosso, Giuseppe UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, nohora.martinez@uneatlantico.es, UNSPECIFIED, francesca.giampieri@uneatlantico.es, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, jose.quiles@uneatlantico.es, maurizio.battino@uneatlantico.es, UNSPECIFIED (2026) Oral Microbiota, the Oral–Brain Axis, and Neurodegeneration: Mechanisms and Dietary Modulation. Antioxidants, 15 (8). p. 925. ISSN 2076-3921
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Abstract
The oral microbiota represents a complex and dynamic microbial ecosystem that plays a critical role in preserving both oral and systemic homeostasis. Emerging evidence suggests that alterations in oral microbial milieu (dysbiosis) may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, especially Alzheimer’s disease (AD), through the oral–brain axis. This review synthesizes current evidence on the pathways linking oral microbiota to cognitive decline, integrating microbial, immunological, and vascular perspectives. Oral pathogens may access the central nervous system via hematogenous dissemination or neural routes, including the trigeminal nerve, while simultaneously promoting systemic inflammation, immune activation, and blood–brain barrier disruption. These processes converge on key neurodegenerative mechanisms, including chronic neuroinflammation, amyloid-β accumulation, and tau pathology. In parallel, alterations in oral microbial composition have been linked to disease severity, supporting a potential role of dysbiosis in both initiation and progression of cognitive impairment. Diet emerges as a critical modifiable determinant of oral microbial ecology. Diets rich in refined sugars may promote dysbiosis and inflammatory signaling, whereas (poly)phenols, probiotics, and prebiotics may support microbial eubiosis and exert neuroprotective effects through modulation of host–microbe interactions. Although current evidence remains largely observational and mechanistic, the diet–oral microbiota–brain axis represents a promising target for preventive and therapeutic strategies aimed at mitigating cognitive decline and promoting healthy aging. Future longitudinal and interventional studies are required to establish causality and translate these insights into clinical practice.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | oral microbiota; dysbiosis; periodontitis; neuroinflammation; cognition; brain; diet; polyphenols |
| Subjects: | Subjects > Biomedicine Subjects > Nutrition |
| Divisions: | Europe University of Atlantic > Research > Articles and books Fundación Universitaria Internacional de Colombia > Research > Articles and books Ibero-american International University > Research > Articles and books Ibero-american International University > Research > Articles and Books |
| Depositing User: | Sr Bibliotecario |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Sep 2026 08:51 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Sep 2026 08:51 |
| URI: | https://repositorio.funiber.org/id/eprint/29655 |
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