EFFECT OF PERIODONTAL TREATMENT ON ALZHEIMER DISEASE-ASSOCIATED OUTCOMES

Impact of Periodontal Treatment on Alzheimer's Disease Progression (PETAL Study)

Study Overview This randomized controlled clinical trial aims to investigate the impact of comprehensive periodontal treatment on cognitive, functional, biomarker, and neuroinflammatory outcomes in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) presenting advanced periodontitis. The study evaluates whether the reduction of oral and systemic inflammation through periodontal therapy can influence the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The trial will be conducted at the University Hospital of Liège, Belgium, under the collaboration between the Departments of Neurology and Periodontology. The project is titled PETAL (Periodontal Treatment in Alzheimer's Disease) and will recruit seventy participants over a 24-month follow-up period.

Background and Rationale Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative condition characterized by progressive decline in cognitive and memory functions, ultimately leading to functional impairment and loss of independence. The disease is associated with the accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, synaptic dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the supporting structures of the teeth, is a highly prevalent condition that induces local and systemic inflammation through the dissemination of periodontal pathogens and their by-products into the bloodstream. Increasing evidence supports a bidirectional relationship between chronic periodontitis and systemic conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Inflammatory mediators derived from periodontal infection may contribute to neuroinflammatory processes that exacerbate neuronal injury and cognitive decline.

The proposed biological mechanism linking periodontitis and Alzheimer's disease involves the entry of periodontal bacteria and their toxins into systemic circulation, triggering immune responses that elevate levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP. These mediators can cross the blood-brain barrier, contributing to microglial activation and neuroinflammation. Pathogens like *Porphyromonas gingivalis* and their virulence factors (gingipains) have been detected in brain tissue, supporting a mechanistic link. Preclinical studies have shown that periodontal infection may increase amyloid-beta production, activate the complement cascade, and promote neurodegeneration. Therefore, periodontal therapy aimed at reducing bacterial load and systemic inflammation could potentially attenuate Alzheimer's-related pathology.

Objectives The primary objective is to determine whether initial non-surgical periodontal therapy combined with intensive supportive periodontal care improves cognitive performance and neuroinflammatory biomarkers in patients with Alzheimer's disease and advanced periodontitis. The secondary objective is to evaluate whether additional periodontal surgical therapy followed by intensive supportive periodontal care enhances cognitive and biological outcomes over 24 months.

Study Design This is a single-center, randomized, controlled, parallel-group clinical trial including seventy patients diagnosed with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease and stage 3 or 4 periodontitis. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an immediate treatment group (test) or a delayed treatment group (control). The control group will begin periodontal therapy six months later than the test group. All patients will undergo comprehensive periodontal and cognitive assessments, biomarker analyses, and neuroimaging at multiple time points during the 24-month study period.

At baseline, both groups will undergo clinical, cognitive, and biological evaluations. The test group will receive immediate periodontal therapy consisting of steps 1 and 2 (behavioral modification, supra- and sub-gingival instrumentation, and extraction of hopeless teeth) followed by intensive supportive periodontal care every three months. The control group will receive the same treatment six months later, with regular supportive care every twelve months during the first year. After twelve months, both groups will receive additional periodontal surgical therapy (step 3) and continue with intensive supportive periodontal maintenance (step 4) every three months until the end of the study.

Sample Size and Statistical Considerations Sample size calculations were based on detecting a 0.9 z-score difference in the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (PACC), assuming a standard deviation of 1.0, a 90% power, and a 2.5% significance level to account for multiple hypotheses testing. Accounting for a 10% dropout rate, a total of 70 participants (35 per group) will be enrolled. Data will be analyzed using mixed-effects models for repeated measures, comparing changes in cognitive, functional, periodontal, and biomarker outcomes between groups across time points.

Interventions

Periodontal treatment will follow a standardized four-step approach:

Step 1: Behavioral modification, supragingival plaque control, and risk factor management.

Step 2: Non-surgical supra- and subgingival instrumentation using ultrasonic piezoelectric devices, with local disinfection using hydrogen peroxide and povidone iodine.

Step 3: Periodontal surgical therapy (if indicated) to treat residual pockets and achieve optimal tissue health.

Step 4: Supportive periodontal care (SPC) every three months, including professional cleaning and reinforcement of oral hygiene instructions.

All treatments will be performed by calibrated periodontists using standardized protocols. Patients will receive individualized oral hygiene instructions and prescribed electric toothbrushes and interdental brushes. The goal is to reduce periodontal pocket depth, bleeding on probing, and plaque accumulation, thereby minimizing systemic inflammatory burden.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome:

• Cognitive status assessed by the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (PACC), integrating memory, executive, and global cognitive function scores.

Secondary Outcomes:

• Functional ability measured by the Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD-6).
• Burden of disease in daily activities for patient and caregiver.
• Periodontal health indices, including probing depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, furcation involvement, and plaque score.
• Biomarkers: Amyloid-beta (Aβ40, Aβ42), phosphorylated tau protein, and inflammatory cytokines in blood and saliva.
• Neuroimaging outcomes: brain gray matter volume and hippocampal subfield mapping using MRI.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease (NIA-AA criteria).
• Mild to moderate cognitive impairment (MMSE >15).
• Stage 3 or 4 periodontitis with at least 10 residual teeth.
• No contraindications to MRI.
• Signed informed consent from patient or legal representative.

Exclusion criteria:

• Participation in another clinical trial within the past 30 days.
• Antibiotic use in the past three months.
• Immunosuppressive therapy or chemotherapy.
• Contraindications to MRI or inability to undergo imaging.

Data Collection and Analysis Cognitive and functional data will be obtained through standardized neuropsychological assessments. The PACC will evaluate global cognitive performance using z-scores derived from memory recall, digit symbol substitution, category fluency, and MMSE results. Functional independence will be measured with DAD-6, and caregiver burden will be scored from 0 to 3. Periodontal data will include probing depth, attachment loss, plaque index, bleeding on probing, and furcation involvement. Blood and saliva samples will be collected for biomarker quantification and stored at -80°C. Neuroimaging will assess brain atrophy and gray matter volume using 3T MRI, analyzed with the SPM12 Longitudinal Toolbox.

Biological analyses will include ELISA quantification of amyloid-beta peptides and phosphorylated tau, and multiplex immunoassays for inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, CRP). Microbiological analysis will involve 16S rDNA sequencing to assess subgingival microbiome composition, processed through DADA2 and LEfSe pipelines to identify taxa associated with systemic inflammation and cognitive decline.

Study Significance This study is among the first randomized controlled clinical trials to directly evaluate the causal impact of periodontal therapy on Alzheimer's disease progression. It integrates advanced cognitive testing, biomarker profiling, and neuroimaging to explore how oral inflammation influences neurodegeneration. By identifying whether controlling periodontal disease can reduce systemic inflammation and slow cognitive decline, this research may open new preventive and therapeutic pathways linking oral and brain health.

Ethical and Regulatory Considerations The study has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University Hospital of Liège. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants or their legal representatives. All data will be anonymized and handled in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The study will be registered on ClinicalTrials.gov prior to participant enrollment.

Conclusion The PETAL study will provide critical insights into the relationship between chronic periodontal inflammation and Alzheimer's disease pathology. If periodontal treatment demonstrates a beneficial effect on cognitive or biological outcomes, it would support a novel, non-pharmacological, and accessible intervention to improve quality of life and slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.