Cognitive function in UK adults seropositive for Helicobacter pylori.

Associated with gastritis, peptic-ulcer disease, and gastric carcinoma, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) also has been associated with decreased cognitive function and dementia. In this study, we used data from the UK Biobank to further examine associations between H. pylori seropositivity and serointensity and performance on several cognitive tasks in adults 40 to 70 years of age (M = 55.3, SD = 8.1). In these analyses, H. pylori seropositivity (i.e., either positive or negative for H. pylori) and serointensity (concentration of antibodies against H. pylori antigens) in adjusted models were associated with worse function on tasks of Numeric memory, Reasoning, and errors on the Pairs matching test but better function on the Tower rearrangement task. Together, these findings suggest that H. pylori seropositivity and serointensity might be associated with worse cognitive function in this age group.

Association between Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Type-1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease characterized by damage to pancreatic insulin-producing beta cells, is associated with adverse renal, retinal, cardiovascular, and cognitive outcomes, possibly including dementia. Moreover, the protozoal parasite Toxoplasma gondii has been associated with type-1 diabetes. To better characterize the association between type-1 diabetes and Toxoplasma gondii infection, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies that evaluated the relationship between type-1 diabetes and Toxoplasma gondii infection. A random-effects model based on nine primary studies (total number of participants = 2655) that met our inclusion criteria demonstrated a pooled odds ratio of 2.45 (95% confidence interval, 0.91-6.61). Removing one outlying study increased the pooled odds ratio to 3.38 (95% confidence interval, 2.09-5.48). These findings suggest that Toxoplasma gondii infection might be positively associated with type-1 diabetes, although more research is needed to better characterize this association. Additional research is required to determine whether changes in immune function due to type-1 diabetes increase the risk of infection with Toxoplasma gondii, infection with Toxoplasma gondii increases the risk of type-1 diabetes, or both processes occur.

Association between Toxoplasma gondii and systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Infecting approximately one-third of the world's population, the intraneuronal parasite Toxoplasma gondii has been associated with several autoimmune diseases. While Toxoplasma gondii may be protective against multiple sclerosis, other findings have negatively associated Toxoplasma gondii with different autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus. To further characterize the association between Toxoplasma gondii and systemic lupus erythematosus, we completed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies looking at the association between Toxoplasma gondii and systemic lupus erythematosus. The primary results of a random-effects model showed an odds ratio of 2.34 (95% confidence interval 1.17-4.69, P = 0.017), indicating the odds of Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity were 2.34 times higher in the group with systemic lupus erythematosus than in the healthy control group. Few available source studies, an overall lack of information about immunosuppressive status, and little information about sex composition and assays limit this finding and indicate the need for additional research to further characterize the association between systemic lupus erythematosus and Toxoplasma gondii.