Periodontal disease, cardiovascular diseases and aging-the multidirectional link

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been observed to occur more frequently in the 60–79 years age group. Similarly, periodontal disease is also more prevalent in the age group of 65 years and above. Thus, it is seen that cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and periodontal disease (PD) share aging as one of the risk factors. Inflammaging with increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, cellular senescence, clonal hematopoiesis are some of the cellular and molecular pathways linking aging to CVD and PD along with a change in oral microbiome. Understanding the link between CVD, PD and aging may help mitigate the deleterious effects of aging on cardiovascular and periodontal tissues.

Keywords: Aging, Cardiovascular disease, Cellular senescence, Periodontal disease