New Study Finds Link Between Common Stomach Bacteria and Alzheimer's Disease

Saturday - February 3 2024, 05:30 UTC - 9 months ago

A new study has found that people with symptomatic H. pylori infection have an 11% higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. With the number of cases expected to triple in the next 40 years, researchers hope these findings will lead to the development of prevention strategies for Alzheimer's disease. The study was published in Alzheimer's & Dementia by a team of experts from McGill University.

A shocking new study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association has uncovered a possible link between a common stomach bacteria and an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. The bacteria, known as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), is present in two-thirds of the global population and is known to cause a variety of stomach-related ailments such as indigestion, gastritis, ulcers, and even stomach cancer.

The research team, composed of experts from McGill University, analyzed health data from over 4 million people in the United Kingdom aged 50 and older over a period of 30 years. Their findings revealed that those with symptomatic H. pylori infection had an 11% higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. This adds to the growing body of evidence pointing to a potential role of infections, particularly H. pylori, in the development of Alzheimer's disease.

According to the study's senior author, Dr. Paul Brassard of McGill University's Department of Medicine, these findings have significant implications considering the global aging population. Alzheimer's disease currently affects millions of people worldwide, and with the number of cases expected to triple in the next 40 years, there is an urgent need for effective treatment options.

The researchers hope that this investigation will provide valuable insights into the potential role of H. pylori in Alzheimer's disease and ultimately lead to the development of prevention strategies, such as individualized eradication programs, to reduce infection rates at a population level.

This groundbreaking study, titled "Clinically apparent Helicobacter pylori infection and the risk of incident Alzheimer's disease", was conducted by a team of researchers including Antonios Douros, Zharmaine Ante, Carlo A. Fallone, Laurent Azoulay, Christel Renoux, Samy Suissa, and Paul Brassard. Its findings were published on December 13, 2023, in Alzheimer's & Dementia. To learn more about their research and the potential implications, check out the full article at DOI: 10.1002/alz.13561.