Eradication of Helicobacter pylori may be beneficial in the management of Alzheimer's disease.
Τίτλος | Eradication of Helicobacter pylori may be beneficial in the management of Alzheimer's disease. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2009 |
Authors | Kountouras, J., Boziki M., Gavalas E., Zavos C., Grigoriadis N., Deretzi G., Tzilves D., Katsinelos P., Tsolaki M., Chatzopoulos D., & Venizelos I. |
Journal | J Neurol |
Volume | 256 |
Issue | 5 |
Pagination | 758-67 |
Date Published | 2009 May |
ISSN | 1432-1459 |
Λέξεις κλειδιά | Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Amoxicillin, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Anti-Ulcer Agents, Biopsy, Clarithromycin, Cognition Disorders, Comorbidity, Endpoint Determination, Female, Gastric Mucosa, Gastroscopy, Helicobacter Infections, Helicobacter pylori, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Omeprazole, Prevalence, Treatment Outcome, Urease |
Abstract | Infectious agents have been proposed as potential causes of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, we documented a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in patients with AD. We aim to access the effect of Hp eradication on the AD cognitive (MMSE: Mini Mental State Examination and CAMCOG: Cambridge Cognitive Examination for the Elderly) and functional (FRSSD: Functional Rating Scale for Symptoms of Dementia) status parameters. In the first part of the study, a total of 50 consecutive patients with AD and 30 age-matched anaemic controls underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and gastric mucosal biopsies were obtained to detect the presence of Hp infection by histologic analysis and rapid urease test. Serum anti-Hp-specific IgG level was analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the second part, Hp-positive AD patients received a triple eradication regimen (omeprazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin), and all patients were followed up for 2 years, while under the same treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors. Hp was detected in 88% of AD patients and in 46.7% of controls (P < 0.001). Hp eradication was successful in 84.8% of treated patients. At the 2-year clinical endpoint, cognitive and functional status parameters improved in the subgroup of patients where Hp eradication was successful (P < 0.001 and P = 0.049 for MMSE and CAMCOG, respectively; P < 0.001 for FRSSD), but not in the other patients. Hp eradication may positively influence AD manifestations, suggesting a possible common link between Hp and AD. |
DOI | 10.1007/s00415-009-5011-z |
Alternate Journal | J. Neurol. |
PubMed ID | 19240960 |