Helicobacter pylori, persistent infection burden and structural brain imaging markers

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Persistent infections, including Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), are increasingly implicated in non-communicable diseases such as dementia.
• Understanding the link between chronic infections and neurodegeneration is crucial for developing preventive strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between H. pylori seropositivity, specific H. pylori antigen levels, and overall persistent infection burden with brain structure and white matter integrity.
• To explore these associations in relation to Alzheimer's disease polygenic risk.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 635 cognitively normal UK Biobank participants (ages 40-70).
• Assessed H. pylori seropositivity, serointensities of five H. pylori antigens, and total persistent infection burden.
• Utilized structural MRI and diffusion-weighted MRI to measure brain volumes and white matter integrity.
• Employed multivariable-adjusted linear regression, stratified by Alzheimer's disease polygenic risk score.

Main Results:

• Little evidence of association between H. pylori seropositivity or infection burden and volumetric brain outcomes.
• H. pylori antigen serointensities (Vacuolating cytotoxin A, GroEL, outer membrane protein) linked to poorer tract-specific white matter integrity.
• Specific antigen associations with white matter integrity and sub-cortical volumes varied by Alzheimer's disease polygenic risk level.

Conclusions:

• H. pylori antigen levels, particularly against specific antigens, are associated with white matter integrity and brain volumes, independent of overall H. pylori seropositivity.
• Findings highlight the potential role of specific infectious agents and their components in neurodegenerative processes.
• Results may inform the development of targeted interventions for preventing dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.