The common stomach bug that may increase your risk
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are bacteria, which can colonise in the sticky mucus that lines the stomach. About 40% of people in the UK have Helicobacter pylori in their stomach so it is very common; in the approximately 8 to 9 out of 10 people who have it, it does not cause any problems – they are completely asymptomatic.
However about 15% of people with the condition get inflammation in either the stomach (gastritis) or duodenum (duodenitis) or both, and in more severe cases, ulcers either in the stomach (gastric ulcer) or in the duodenum (duodenal ulcer). Although ulcers tend to cause indigestion, occasionally they become much more serious as they can bleed or even burst (perforate), which happens if the ulcer burrows deep enough into the stomach lining to make a hole. The most common sign of an ulcer is a dull ache or burning in the belly, which may come and go or worsen when the stomach is empty. Other symptoms include frequent burping or bloating, nausea, or black or tarry stools. Left untreated, long-term infection with H. pylori may eventually lead to stomach cancer. People with ulcers should therefore be treated with the aim of getting rid of H. pylori.
Because there are millions of people who have both H. pylori and severe indigestion, it can be tempting to draw the conclusion that one leads to the other. However, there are many other reasons for indigestion other than ulcers. Most people suffering from indigestion will not have ulcers.
You can read more about H.pylori, its causes, symptoms and treatment in my detailed blog post here.
H.pylori and dementia – what’s the link?
Recent studies have found that H. pylori may be linked to an increased risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists at McGill University in Montreal and Charite University in Berlin analysed medical records of more than four million men and women aged 50 and older living in Britain. They found that people with symptomatic H. pylori infection had an 11% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. The risk was greatest about 10 years after the onset of symptoms.
Research showed that H. pylori can reach the brain via various routes, potentially causing inflammation, damage and the destruction of neurons there. Furthermore, when the stomach has been damaged by these microbes, it is also less able to absorb vitamin B12 or iron effectively, which can also increase the risk of dementia.
This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that H. pylori infection may be associated with an increased risk of dementia. The clinical implications lie in maintaining vigilance against dementia in elderly patients infected with H. pylori, and early detection and timely medical treatment for H. pylori patients through a multidisciplinary approach.
Currently, there are more than 50 million people with dementia worldwide, and this number will increase to 152 million by 2050. In addition, infections, diabetes, hypertension, and stroke can also contribute to the occurrence of dementia.
Should you check for H.pylori?
If you’re concerned about H. pylori infection or think you may have an ulcer, talk to your doctor. Breath tests and stool tests are available to detect the bacteria. Follow-up tests using scopes in the stomach may also be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.
If H. pylori is present, you can be prescribed ‘triple therapy’, consisting of two antibiotics to kill the bug and a PPI (proton pump inhibitor) like omeprazole or lansoprazole to reduce levels of acid in the stomach and allow the stomach lining to heal. If, after triple therapy, you are still getting symptoms, it’s important to get tested again (with a stool test, not a breath test) as another round of triple therapy eradication meds may be required. There are also naturopathic protocols for eradicating H. pylori, avoiding the use of taking two antibiotics and a PPI, but you would have to work with a nutritional therapist, naturopath or medical herbalist on this protocol.
How can you reduce the risk?
These recent findings linking H. pylori and brain conditions are an important reminder of the importance of controlling blood pressure levels to avoid the risk of stroke – blood pressure can be managed through diet, lifestyle and supplements.
Research such as this study shows that a healthy lifestyle may be linked to less long-term risk of dementia for most people.
The study showed dementia risk could be lowered by as much at 73% by changing certain lifestyle factors. Participants were aged 55 and over, more than half were women and two-thirds had a favourable lifestyle, including regular physical activity, a healthy diet, limited alcohol intake and no history of smoking. The general take-away of this paper is that adopting multiple healthy lifestyle behaviours is protective. It’s easy to fall into the trap of resigning yourself to the possibility of being diagnosed with a serious illness, such as dementia because ‘it runs in the family’, but there are things you can do to protect your brain to reduce your risk of cognitive decline as you age.
Tips for better brain health
- Manage long-term health conditions – take steps to manage or prevent high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol.
- Eat a healthy balanced diet – avoid saturated fat and sugar as they can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, which, in turn, increase the risk of dementia. Consume plenty of healthy fats; try following a Mediterranean diet.
- Take supplements – in particular, our Live Bacteria probiotic capsules, Digestive Enzymes tablets and Omega 3 fish oil capsules to help maintain brain health. The Live Bacteria capsules can help support the gut/brain axis, the Digestive Enzymes can help with better absorption of nutrients and the Omega 3 capsules can help reduce inflammation. However, it’s also worth considering taking Ubiquinol too. Ubiquinol is a rich form of co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which does many things including protecting the cells against oxidative stress, a very important factor to help reduce the risk of dementia. The largest concentrations of this substance are found in the kidneys, heart, liver and pancreas, however, it can also be obtained through food and supplements. Some foods that are rich in this nutrient include eggs, nuts, chicken, fish (including oily fish) and whole grains. In recent years, CoQ10 has been rigorously studied and research has shown that there are many wellness benefits associated with taking a daily supplement. When I was at the Viva-Mayr Clinic in Austria during spring, this supplement was recommended to me due to my family history of dementia. I take the Pharmanord 100mg Ubiquinol capsules. Just one daily
- Be physically active daily – build activity into every day and aim for at least 150 minutes of activity across a week to help prevent and control many long-term conditions, like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, reduce stress, boost your mental wellness and help you maintain a healthy weight.
- Protect your hearing and vision – get your eyes and ears tested regularly and wear a hearing aid if you need to.
- Drink less alcohol – if you enjoy a tipple, try to limit your intake to 14 units a week.
- Avoid head injury – wear a helmet during sports such as horse riding and cycling.
- Don’t smoke – if you do smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your brain health.
- Keep your mind active – challenge your brain by learning something new, doing puzzles, reading.
- Stay connected – join a local community group, such as a book club, an arts and crafts class or a walking / hiking club.
If you have a question about a digestive and gut health issue or would like to know more about our supplements, please get in touch.
