An abundance of severe gum disease, known as periodontitis, could exacerbate disability in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune condition affecting the central nervous system. Research published in Scientific Reports revealed a significant association between high levels of Fusobacterium nucleatum, a mouth bacterium, and a ten-fold higher likelihood of severe disability in MS patients. This bacterium’s presence was particularly prevalent in patients with moderate-to-severe disability compared to those with milder forms of the disease.
The study, led by Masahiro Nakamori from Hiroshima University Hospital, highlighted the unexplored role of the oral microbiome in multiple sclerosis severity. Nearly two-thirds of MS patients with elevated Fusobacterium nucleatum levels fell into the moderate-to-severe disability category, indicating a potential link between oral bacteria and disease progression. Interestingly, this association was not observed in patients with other neurological disorders like neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease.
According to Nakamori, Fusobacterium nucleatum may serve as a “bridge bacterium,” connecting oral inflammation to neurological disability in MS patients. Multiple sclerosis, characterized by central inflammatory demyelination affecting nerve cell protective layers, lacks a definitive cause but is believed to involve factors such as viral infections, smoking, vitamin deficiencies, and genetic predispositions. The research team aims to conduct larger studies to confirm the relationship between oral bacteria and the severity of multiple sclerosis.
