Tooth loss impairs cognitive function in SAMP8 mice via the NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway.

Objective: Loss of occlusal support due to tooth loss has been indicated as one of the risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between tooth loss and cognitive dysfunction and illustrate the role of neuroinflammation in advancing Alzheimer's disease.
Materials and Methods: Male 5-month-old senescence-accelerated mouse strain P8 (SAMP8) mice were divided into three groups (n = 7): the C (control), S (sham-operated), and TL (tooth loss) groups. The Morris water maze (MWM) test was performed to assess spatial memory. Additionally, histopathological and molecular assessments of hippocampal tissues were performed.
Results: The TL groups exhibited impaired spatial memory in the water maze. Tooth loss induced higher protein expression levels of the neuroinflammation cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the hippocampus than in the S and C groups. Tooth loss activated the NLRP3 inflammasome and increased the expression of Caspase-1 in the hippocampus.
Conclusions: The findings indicated that tooth loss impairs cognitive function in SAMP8 mice and is closely related to the activation of NLRP3/Caspase-1 in the hippocampus.
(© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)