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Tag: Helicobacter pylori

  • Association of Helicobacter pylori Infection with Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

    Association of Helicobacter pylori Infection with Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

    The association between Helicobacter pylori infection and depression and anxiety has been reported in the literature.

    A meta-analysis was developed in 2024 with the aim of investigating the association between H. pylori infection with these mental health conditions. The systematic search was conducted not only in international sources such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase, but also in Chinese databases, and looked for observational studies that reported the incidence or prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with H. pylori infection.

    Surprisingly, while the findings of this analysis showed a significant positive association between the bacteria and anxiety disorders, the association with depression appeared to be insignificant. Nevertheless, this finding seems to imply that clinicians treating H. pylori patients should also address their psychological well-being.

    Learn more about this review here: https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/9247586

    Reference

    Li, Lu, Ren, Yadi, Wang, Zeyu, Niu, Yanqing, Zhao, Ying, Aihaiti, Xiaherezhati, Ji, Yinglan, Li, Man, Association of Helicobacter pylori Infection with Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, International Journal of Clinical Practice, 2024, 9247586, 9 pages, 2024.

  • Impact of Helicobacter pylori eradication on age‑specific risk of incident dementia in patients with peptic ulcer disease: a nationwide population‑based cohort study

    Impact of Helicobacter pylori eradication on age‑specific risk of incident dementia in patients with peptic ulcer disease: a nationwide population‑based cohort study

    A large South Korean cohort study from 2024 examined whether peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy influence dementia risk in adults aged 55–79.

    Using national health insurance data from 2002–2015 and propensity score matching, researchers assessed overall dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) over 5–10 years. While the researchers did not directly verify the presence of the bacteria, their findings were based on treatment history.

    The results showed that PUD was associated with a higher risk of developing dementia, with a stronger link for overall dementia than for AD. Eradication therapy itself did not markedly change overall risk, but later treatment was associated with greater dementia risk, highlighting the importance of timely management. Age-stratified analyses also indicated elevated AD risk, particularly in individuals in their 60s and 70s.

    Overall, the findings suggest that PUD is a risk factor for dementia in older adults, and that early treatment of H. pylori infection may play a role in prevention strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-024-01284-z

    Reference

    Kang, D.W., Lee, JW., Park, M.Y. et al. Impact of Helicobacter pylori eradication on age-specific risk of incident dementia in patients with peptic ulcer disease: a nationwide population-based cohort study. GeroScience 47, 1161–1174 (2025).

  • Investigating the synergistic effects of amitriptyline and H. pylori eradication on depressive-like behaviors and inflammatory cytokines in mice

    Investigating the synergistic effects of amitriptyline and H. pylori eradication on depressive-like behaviors and inflammatory cytokines in mice

    Recent research has highlighted the potential role of Helicobacter pylori in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. In this experimental study, researchers used mice to explore whether combining amitriptyline with H. pylori eradication therapy produced greater benefits than either treatment alone.

    Male mice were firstly allocated into four groups: healthy controls, H. pylori-infected mice, mice receiving antidepressant treatment only, and mice receiving both antidepressant and eradication therapy.

    The initial findings confirmed that H. pylori infection induced depression-like behaviors in mice. In addition, while the use of antidepressants alone slightly improved these depression-like behaviors, it was the combination of antidepressants and bacterial eradication therapy that induced a more significant improvement in these symptoms. The combined treatment also appears to have led to an improvement in the psychomotor function of the animals.

    Inflammatory cytokines (e.g., interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)) are usually released in response to Helicobacter colonization and tissue damage, leading to a chronic state of inflammation, but are also associated with depression-like behaviors in humans and animal models, behaviors that have been shown to be attenuated by the use of antidepressants. In this study, researchers found that not only was H. pylori infection associated with changes in inflammatory cytokine levels, but that these alterations were partially reversed when both therapies were used together.

    Overall, the findings suggest that targeting both infection and mood symptoms simultaneously may offer enhanced behavioral and anti-inflammatory benefits compared to isolated treatment approaches.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114552

    Reference

    Miao Xu and Hua Fan, “Investigating the synergistic effects of amitriptyline and H. pylori eradication on depressive-like behaviors and inflammatory cytokines in mice”, Physiology & Behavior, Volume 281, 1 July 2024, 114552

  • The Psychotic Impact of Helicobacter pylori Gastritis and Functional Dyspepsia on Depression: A Systematic Review

    The Psychotic Impact of Helicobacter pylori Gastritis and Functional Dyspepsia on Depression: A Systematic Review

    The clinical practice of adding antidepressant drugs to the therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori, in addition to the standard drug regimen, has been widely considered in recent years but its specific role in this treatment is still unclear.

    In this systematic review researchers tried to establish if there is an association between H. pylori gastritis and depression and to further analyze the therapeutic effect of antidepressants on symptomatic relief in gastritis. For that, they analyzed randomized clinical trials, cross-sectional and prospective studies, and review articles that examined H. pylori infection, depression, functional dyspepsia, and antidepressant treatment. They focused especially on patients whose digestive symptoms did not improve even after successful H. pylori eradication.

    Across the studies, a clear pattern emerged: patients with ongoing functional dyspepsia after H. pylori treatment often improved when they were given antidepressants, even when standard eradication therapy alone had not worked. However, the authors highlight that more research is needed before this approach becomes routine medical practice.

    Learn more about this review here: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.5956

    Reference

    Al Quraan A M, Beriwal N, Sangay P, et al. (October 21, 2019) The Psychotic Impact of Helicobacter pylori Gastritis and Functional Dyspepsia on Depression: A Systematic Review. Cureus 11(10)

  • Psychological effects of Helicobacter pylori-associated atrophic gastritis in patients under 50 years: A cross-sectional study

    Psychological effects of Helicobacter pylori-associated atrophic gastritis in patients under 50 years: A cross-sectional study

    A cross-sectional, observational study involving 975 Japanese individuals who underwent a health checkup, has found that people with atrophic gastritis had a significantly higher risk of experiencing psychological distress or depressed mood.

    Interestingly, the risk was higher in females under 50 years old, regardless of H. pylori infection status.

    Although the mechanism remains to be elucidated, the researchers suggest there is a possibility that nutritional status, neuroendocrinologic factors, and/or socioeconomic factors are involved. However, further studies are necessary to reveal the precise underlying mechanisms.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1111/hel.12445

    Reference

    Takeoka A, Tayama J, Kobayashi M, et al. Psychological effects of Helicobacter pylori-associated atrophic gastritis in patients under 50 years: A cross-sectional study. Helicobacter. 2017; 22:e12445