Is Helicobacter pylori infection a critical risk factor for vascular dementia

Purpose: The association of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and Alzheimer's disease has widely been addressed, but no relative data exist regarding vascular dementia (VD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Hp infection and VD. Material and method: From January 2014 to March 2015, patients at Tai'an City Central Hospital who were diagnosed with VD were included. Patients were divided into Hp positive and Hp negative group using the 13C-urea breath test (13C-UBT). Three inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were detected. Results: A total of 173 VD patients were included in the study. According to 13C-UBT, 104 patients (60.1%) were Hp positive VD patients and 69 patients (39.9%) were Hp negative patients. No differences were found between Hp positive and Hp negative patients as regard to age, gender, body mass index, education level, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia (p > 0.05...