Periodontal health and dementia risk in a large health system
Official title: Periodontal Disease, Treatment, and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in an Integrated Health System
Funded at Kaiser Foundation Research Institute · NIH-11447646 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large health system will study whether gum disease and its treatment relate to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $825,851 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG099141-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447646 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged as defined by the EHR data who have dental and medical records available in the KPNW system.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without long-term follow-up data or those not meeting study criteria may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will use detailed dental and medical records from Kaiser Permanente Northwest to examine how periodontitis and dental treatments relate to dementia risk. It will look at how periodontal disease may influence brain health and whether treating gum disease affects dementia outcomes. The study will focus on adults seen in a real-world clinical setting and will analyze long-term data to understand bi-directional relationships between oral health and cognitive disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform how dental care may contribute to dementia prevention or management.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research suggests associations between oral health and dementia, but results have been inconsistent, making this study both timely and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brenowitz, Willa Domino — Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Brenowitz, Willa Domino
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.