GASTRIC HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION AS A CAUSE OF IDIOPATHIC PARKINSON DISEASE AND NON-ARTERIC ANTERIOR OPTIC ISCHEMIC NEUROPATHY

The mechanisms of pathogenesis for both idiopathic Parkinson disease a nd nonarteritic anterior optic ischemic neuropathy are unknown. A stud y has shown that, in both diseases, there is a higher prevalence of ga strointestinal ulcers than in age- and sex-matched controls or than in the reported rates for the general population. It is proposed that ga stric Helicobacter pylori infection may be a cause of both these disea ses.