New preliminary research presented today at the American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions in Boston has identified a potential biological pathway linking a common gum disease bacterium to a serious condition that hardens the heart's aortic valve, and found that blocking a key inflammatory protein significantly reduced valve damage in mice.
Gum disease bacteria may spur calcium buildup in the heart's aortic valve, leading to a common and serious heart valve disease, according to the preliminary, independent research. The study was conducted using mouse and human cardiac tissue, and the findings were presented at the AHA's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2026 in Boston, July 13–16.
