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 and non-arteritic anterior optic ischemic neuropathy are unknown. A study has shown that, in both diseases, there is a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal ulcers than in age- and sex-matched controls or than in the reported rates for the general population. It is proposed that gastric Helicobacter pylori infection may be a cause of both these diseases.