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SHORT COMMUNICATION

Causal links between Helicobacter pylori infection and Alzheimer’s disease: Insights from genome-wide summary data-based Mendelian randomization

Yuan Xin Hou1,2 ,  Ao Wang1 ,  Ke Yi1,2*
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1 Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
2 Department of Operation Management, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Occurrence and Intervention of Rheumatic Diseases/Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Nephrology, Minda Hospital of Hubei Minzu University, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, Hubei, China
EJMO, 025140087 https://doi.org/10.36922/EJMO025140087
Received: 4 April 2025 | Revised: 27 April 2025 | Accepted: 6 May 2025 | Published online: 22 May 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with various illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The purpose of this work is to utilize Mendelian randomization (MR) methods to examine the possible link between AD and H. pylori infection. We utilized information from the Finngen database and the UK Biobank for MR analysis. Six antibodies related to H. pylori were assessed for their association with AD. The MR analysis involved two-sample methods, while generalized summary data-based MR (GSMR) was employed to analyze genetic data for a robust causal inference. The two-sample MR investigation exhibited a strong link among AD and anti-H. pylori UREA antibodies, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.076 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.010 – 1.147; p=0.024). Similarly, GSMR confirmed this relationship, showing an OR of 1.071 (95% CI = 1.004 – 1.143; p=0.038). No notable correlations were seen with other antibodies. Our findings suggest that H. pylori infection may be related to a higher likelihood of AD development, particularly through anti-H. pylori UREA antibodies.

Keywords
Helicobacter pylori
Infection
Alzheimer’s disease
Mendelian randomization
Genome-wide summary data-based Mendelian randomization
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Eurasian Journal of Medicine and Oncology, Electronic ISSN: 2587-196X Print ISSN: 2587-2400, Published by AccScience Publishing
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