A Canadian study has linked a common bacterial infection to a moderate increase in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in adults over 50.
- Canadian researchers have observed that a common stomach bacteria could increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
- The bacteria Helicobacter pylori can cause gastric ulcers, ulcers, and in some serious cases, stomach cancer.
- Research found that Helicobacter pylori infection was correlated with an 11% increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
In France, around 1 million people are affected by Alzheimer’s disease. This pathology results in a progressive and permanent deterioration of nerve cells. Different risk factors can promote its appearance, such as age, genetics or environment (sedentary lifestyle, repeated anesthesia, untreated diabetes and hypertension, etc.).
An association between stomach bacteria and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease
According to a recent study published in The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, Helicobacter pylori, a common stomach bacteria, may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Very widespread worldwide, this pathogen can cause indigestion, gastritis and ulcers, and even stomach cancer.
To reach this conclusion, scientists from McGill University (Canada) analyzed medical data collected between 1988 and 2019 from more than four million people over the age of 50 living in the United Kingdom. They then found that Helicobacter pylori infection was correlated with an 11% increase in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Helicobacter pylori bacteria: hope for new therapeutic avenues
In their conclusions, the researchers expressed their concern. Due to the aging population, they fear that cases of Alzheimer’s will increase drastically in the coming decades. “The number of people with dementia is expected to triple over the next 40 years. Despite these alarming data, there are still no effective treatments for this disease.”noted Dr. Paul Brassard, lead author of the study and professor at the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University.
The research team therefore hopes that these initial results will open the way to new therapeutic avenues. “In this way, we will be able to develop prevention strategies, such as personalized eradication programs, in order to reduce the number of infections in the population,” added Doctor Paul Brassard.
