I was interested to read an article in the Daily Mail today: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...ase-transmitted-contaminated-instruments.html The headline, 'Can going to the dentist give you Alzheimer's?' does sound alarmist and the article goes on to say that NOT going to the dentist - and thereby increasing the likelihood of chronic gum disease may increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's. The content that I found most interesting was the claim that an injury suffered by a person in the early stage of AD may accelerate the condition as a result of the effect of inflammation: "Researchers monitored 300 British patients with mild Alzheimer's for six months. Those who had undergone dental or medical surgery that triggered an increase in the production of white blood cells (which help the body recuperate) experienced a tenfold increase in the rate of cognitive decline. Surgery also triggered a cascade of healing inflammatory proteins that communicate with the nerve cells in the brain, causing lethargy, sleepiness and lack of focus. This normally helps the body recover by enforcing rest. But with early-stage Alzheimer's it seems the proteins have a harmful effect. Professor Holmes told Good Health at the time this could turn 'someone with mild Alzheimer's...into a person who requires round-the-clock care." This rang a bell with me because this was what happened to my mother. She was early-stage and we managed by me coming round to cook tea every night. She then broke her pelvis and her mental functioning immediately deteriorated such that I had to be with her for most of the time. I had thought that this was due to the mental trauma of the break, but now I'm beginning to wonder if there wasn't a deterioration due to the inflammation caused by the injury. I wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience?
