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Whether you're a quick or slow thinker depends on several factors, such as the efficiency of the brain's wiring and the amount of gray matter in specific control centers. But there may be another, rather surprising influence, and that's the bacteria in your mouth. Scientists have found an association between the mix of microbes on your tongue and how well the brain performs cognitive tasks as we age.

Previous studies have shown that poor oral health and gum disease are linked to cognitive impairment. Other research has found that nitrate from the food we eat can influence blood flow to the brain and cognitive performance.

So researchers led by Joanna E. L'Heureux at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom wondered whether mouth bacteria involved in this pathway are linked to cognitive function.

It's not as strange as it may sound. When we eat nitrate-rich foods like beets or leafy greens, nitrate enters our bloodstream and travels into our saliva. Friendly bacteria in our mouth then convert it into nitrite, which the body can turn into nitric oxide. This gaseous compound helps relax blood vessels and can increase blood flow to the brain.

To investigate further, the research team recruited 15 younger adults and 15 older adults in Exeter and the same number in Brussels, Belgium. The reason for the two locations was to see if the links between mouth bacteria, aging and thinking skills were the same in different countries or unique to one place.

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