Health Citizens – European Research Institute

Tag: Peptic ulcer disease

  • 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).

  • Increased risk of short-term depressive disorder after Helicobacter pylori eradication: A population-based nested cohort study

    Increased risk of short-term depressive disorder after Helicobacter pylori eradication: A population-based nested cohort study

    A study using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance data found that antibiotic therapy for H. pylori in patients with peptic ulcer disease was linked to a short-term increase in psychiatrist-diagnosed depression within 30 days. Women and patients treated with clarithromycin were particularly at higher risk.

    The researchers reported that the increased risk of depression after H. pylori eradication therapy may involve alterations in the brain-gut-microbiome axis induced by antibiotic treatment, as is it well known that antibiotics can change the gut microbial composition, metabolism, and function, thereby affecting human health and possibly contributing to the pathophysiology of depression.

    Based on these findings, the authors recommend that clinicians should monitor mental health shortly after H. pylori eradication, as short-term depressive symptoms may occur and be easily overlooked.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1111/hel.12824

    Reference

    Tsai C-F, Chen M-H, Wang Y-P, et al. Increased risk of short-term depressive disorder after Helicobacter pylori eradication: A population-based nested cohort study. Helicobacter. 2021; 26:e12824.

  • GWAS of peptic ulcer disease implicates Helicobacter pylori infection, other gastrointestinal disorders and depression

    GWAS of peptic ulcer disease implicates Helicobacter pylori infection, other gastrointestinal disorders and depression

    A study of over 450,000 people in the UK Biobank identified 8 independent genes that affect stomach acid, gut movement, and the body’s response to infection, including susceptibility to Helicobacter pylori infection.

    The study also explored connections between these gut conditions and depression, which often occurs alongside digestive problems, providing new insights into the complex interplay between gut health and mental well-being.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21280-7

    Reference

    Wu, Y., Murray, G.K., Byrne, E.M. et al. GWAS of peptic ulcer disease implicates Helicobacter pylori infection, other gastrointestinal disorders and depression. Nat Commun 12, 1146 (2021)