ChinaZhou Wu

Associate Professor, Faculty of Dental Science,Kyushu University
JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Japan
Ph.D. Candidate, Dental Science, Kyushu University, Japan
M.S., Medical Science, Bethune Medical University, China
B.S., Medicine, Bethune Medical University, China

My Research Interests
The impact of oral health on human well-being is a global concern. Normally, oral bacteria
maintain their balance in the mouth and do not enter the bloodstream. However, gum diseasecan provide a port of entry for microbes and change the intestinal flora, especially during aging.
Diseases and medications that reduce saliva flow can also disrupt the balance of oral bacteria,
allowing them to enter the bloodstream. Research has shown that oral bacteria-induced gum
disease (periodontitis) is associated with other systemic diseases, such as arteriosclerosis anddiabetes. Recently, worsening oral health has been identified as a sequela of Alzheimer'sdisease, which is the major type of dementia in worldwide aging. I have found that microglia,
the resident mononuclear phagocytes in the brain, induce age-dependent differential responses
to chronic systemic inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. We thus raised thehypothesis of “microglia-aging,” which infers that microglia are the key accelerators of brainaging.
My research interests focus on clarifying the mechanisms of oral health on brain function.
We have found that chronic systemic exposure to components of P. gingivalis, the major
bacteria involved in periodontitis, induces
microglia-dependent amyloid β plaqueaccumulation and results in cognitive decline,
even in middle-aged animals. Moreover, oral
infections with live P. gingivalis induced
cognitive decline faster than with its
components, suggesting that oral infections
induce brain aging. We believe thatmaintaining good oral health will slow brain
aging and contribute to well-being. I am also
exploring natural solutions for slowing
Research designoral–brain aging.

8My Career and Vision
I worked as a dentist in a university hospitalfor 10 years after graduating from auniversity in China. During my clinicalexperience, I saw patients suffering fromvarious diseases and was sure that basic
medical science could help guide theirclinical course. I went on to pursue myPh.D. in Japan because I remembered theexcitement of basic medical science frommy former mentor. The difficult training I
received as a dental student taught mebravery and endurance in performing myPh.D. research and during my postdoctoral
fellowship at Kyushu University.
I have continued basic science
research in Japan because many
countries are entering an aging
society, and Japan has alreadyadvanced to a super-aging society.
My research concept is thatmaintaining oral health slows brain
aging and contributes to well-being.
I am also exploring natural cures toslow oral-brain aging. I believe thatbuilding a health longevity model inJapan and communicating my findings to
the world will contribute to global healthlongevity.
One of my favorite things about Japan isJapanese food. The food is made from fresh
ingredients, has good natural flavors, and isbeautifully presented. I enjoy improving mydelicate sense of taste through Japanese
food, which was listed as an entity in
UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in2013.

Collaboration with British researchers

Message for Students

I practice a round and straight philosophy: Roundreader (read widely), straight speaker (speak simply),round eater (eager gourmand), and straight cook(cook simply). A spiral shape is formed by winding
material straight and round, resulting in more
flexibility and elasticity, helping you to spring up tohigher ground in life. I am happy to share some of myMy favorite: Japanese foodwisdom gained through life experience: “Enjoy
hardships to polish will, enjoy competitive relationships to polish sense, and enjoy
friendships to polish heart.” As someone who is constantly learning, I believe that
“Today I am a reader, tomorrow I will be a leader!” Life with science is wonderful!

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