I didn't see anyone mention the Borrellia is the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. It would be interesting to see if Alzheimer's is more prevalent in endemic Lyme's regions of the country.
The other interesting fact that my research on longevity showed that tribes in Peru I believe that were reported to live beyond 100 YO all lost their teeth around age 25. The implication being that oral bacteria from gingivitis had a detrimental effect on life span.
On a final note while neurosyphilis is certainly a cause of dementia. Patients that I have seen in the hospital with dementia and who get a neurological work up that includes tests for syphilis have yet to be positive. Granted this is not a scientific study and only anecdotal.
"Lyme DiseaseLyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with validated methods. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tickborne diseases as well.
>> “The other interesting fact that my research on longevity showed that tribes in Peru I believe that were reported to live beyond 100 YO all lost their teeth around age 25” <<
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My father, who lived 90 years, lost all of his teeth at 30, to pyorrhea.