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An association between Helicobacter pylori infection and cognitive function in children at early school age: a
Khitam Muhsen1, Asher Ornoy, Ashraf Akawi
1Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection may negatively impact cognitive development in children. This infection was linked to lower IQ scores in children from higher socioeconomic backgrounds.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a known risk factor for iron deficiency anemia, which can impair cognitive development.
- Previous research suggests a potential link between H. pylori infection and cognitive function, but this has not been extensively studied in children independently of other factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between H. pylori infection and cognitive function in healthy children.
- To examine this relationship independently of socioeconomic status and nutritional factors.
Main Methods:
- A community-based study involved 200 children aged 6-9 years from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
- H. pylori infection was detected using an ELISA kit for stool antigen.
- Cognitive function was assessed via the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, 5th Edition, yielding IQ scores.
- Multivariate linear regression analysis controlled for socioeconomic and nutritional variables.
Main Results:
- H. pylori infection was significantly associated with lower full-scale IQ (adjusted β = -6.1, P = 0.02), non-verbal IQ (adjusted β = -6.0, P = 0.04), and verbal IQ (adjusted β = -5.7, P = 0.02) scores.
- This association was observed specifically in children from higher socioeconomic communities.
- Results were adjusted for potential confounding factors.
Conclusions:
- H. pylori infection may adversely affect cognitive development in early school-aged children.
- This novel finding suggests a potential mechanism linking H. pylori to cognitive deficits.
- Further research with larger, diverse populations is warranted to confirm these results.
Background:
H. pylori infection has been linked to iron deficiency anemia, a risk factor of diminished cognitive development. The hypothesis on an association between H. pylori infection and cognitive function was examined in healthy children, independently of socioeconomic and nutritional factors.
Methods:
A community-based study was conducted among 200 children aged 6-9 years, from different socioeconomic background. H. pylori infection was examined by an ELISA kit for detection of H. pylori antigen in stool samples. Cognitive function of the children was blindly assessed using Stanford-Benit test 5th edition, yielding IQ scores. Data on socioeconomic factors and nutritional covariates were collected through maternal interviews and from medical records. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to obtain adjusted beta coefficients.
Results:
H. pylori infection was associated with lower IQ scores only in children from a relatively higher socioeconomic community; adjusted beta coefficient -6.1 (95% CI -11.4, -0.8) (P = 0.02) for full-scale IQ score, -6.0 (95% CI -11.1, -0.2) (P = 0.04) for non-verbal IQ score and -5.7 (95% CI -10.8, -0.6) (P = 0.02) for verbal IQ score, after controlling for potential confounders.
Conclusions:
H. pylori infection might be negatively involved in cognitive development at early school age. Further studies in other populations with larger samples are needed to confirm this novel finding.
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