A new study has found that a common stomach disorder may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at McGill University in Montreal analyzed health records of four million British individuals aged 50 and older from 1988 to 2019. They discovered that those with symptoms of Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection had an 11% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia.
Helicobacter pylori (or Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection) is a bacterium found in contaminated food, water, and soil, and it can also easily spread from person to person through bodily fluids. Most people are unaware that they have an H.pylori infection as they do not experience any symptoms. However, some may suffer from symptoms that can lead to indigestion, gastritis, ulcers, and even stomach cancer.
The increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s peaked at 24% seven to ten years after contracting the bacteria before declining again. The researchers proposed several ways in which the bacteria could reach the brain and cause cellular inflammation and neurodegeneration. They suggested that the bacteria may disrupt gut balance and lead to excessive production of amyloid, a protein that accumulates and forms plaques in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
The team also proposed that damage to the stomach lining due to the infection could affect the absorption of vitamin B12 and iron, with deficiencies in both being associated with dementia. Through this new study, the team suggested that eradicating this common infection could help prevent approximately 200,000 cases of Alzheimer’s worldwide each year.
Dr. Paul Brasseur, the study's lead author and a professor in the Department of Medicine at McGill University, stated: "Given the aging global population, the number of individuals with dementia is expected to triple in the next forty years. However, there is still a lack of effective treatment options for this disease. We hope that the results of this investigation will provide insight into the potential role of Helicobacter pylori in dementia to enrich the development of preventive strategies, such as individual eradication programs, to reduce the infection at the population level."
