P1-166: Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and Alzheimer’s disease

Background: Although degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), have an increasingly high impact in aged population their association with Helicobacter pylori infection has not as yet been thoroughly researched. Objective(s): The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of H. pylori infection with AD by introducing the histological method (the actual gold standard) for diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Methods: Of 51 consecutive patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for AD, 50 patients were included in this study. The control subjects comprised 30 non-demented, gender- and age-matched anemic patients, in whom endoscopy was normal. Results: The histological prevalence of H. pylori infection was 88% (44 of 50) in the AD patients and 46.7% (14 of 30) in the anemic controls (P<0.001, odds ratio: 8.4, 95% CI: 2.4-28.7). When compared with the control values the mean serum anti-H. pylori IgG titer was significantly higher in AD patients (34.0±40.1 vs. 17.0±18.1 U/mL; P=0.016). Conclusions: In conclusion, an association between H. pylori infection and AD patients in a Greek cohort has been found. If a causal link between H. pylori infection and AD is confirmed in the future, this may have a major impact on the pathophysiology and management of AD.