Dementia Severity and Aging as Primary Predictors of Periodontal Inflammation: A Pilot Study in a Puerto Rican Alzheimer’s Cohort

Aging and dementia severity (CDR) were the strongest predictors of periodontal inflammation. These findings align with emerging literature linking oral microbial dysbiosis and neuroinflammatory mechanisms in AD. The use of standardized CDC-AAP definitions provided clinical rigor, and the elevated periodontitis prevalence observed in this cohort underscores the need for integrated oral-systemic care strategies in dementia prevention and management, particularly in underrepresented populations such as Puerto Rico.