A recent study suggests a potential link between stomach bacteria, commonly known as "stomach bugs," and an elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease, affecting two-thirds of the global population.

Researchers at McGill University examined whether the presence of clinically apparent Helicobacter pylori infection, known for causing symptoms such as indigestion, gastritis, ulcers, and stomach cancer, increases the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease in individuals aged 50 or older.

Analyzing health data from over 4 million people in the United Kingdom between 1988 and 2019, the McGill University team discovered that individuals exhibiting symptoms of H. pylori infection had an 11 percent higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

The study, featured in the Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, paves the way for future investigations, particularly in exploring whether eliminating these bacteria could effectively prevent Alzheimer's disease in certain individuals.

Dr. Paul Brassard, the senior author of the study and a professor in the Department of Medicine at McGill University, emphasized the significance of the findings in the context of the aging global population. He expressed hope that the research results would shed light on the potential role of H. pylori bacteria in dementia, informing the development of prevention strategies to reduce infection at the population level. (Agencies)