The news on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) used to treat ulcers and serious gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has not been good lately. Researchers have reported long-term side effects such as an increased risk of chronic kidney disease, hip fractures and C diff infections. Last summer there was even a report that PPIs were linked to heart attacks. Now, a German study has just revealed another potential risk of taking a popular heartburn pill over the long term.
The study, published this week in JAMA Neurology, found that PPI users were 44 percent more likely to develop dementia over the seven years the study lasted. The researchers reviewed medical records from more than 73,000 older people. Nearly 3,000 of these individuals, who were at least 75 years old, filled prescriptions for a heartburn pill such as omeprazole, lansoprazole or esomeprazole on a regular basis. The medications are better known by their brand names Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium.
The analysis showed an association between such proton pump inhibitors and the risk of dementia; it did not show that the drugs cause dementia. Nonetheless, as an accompanying editorial points out, PPIs may impact brain enzymes that could impact the formation of plaques and tangles. Lower levels of vitamin B12 might also increase the risk for cognitive decline.
If this association holds up to further scrutiny, this “could result in an increase of about 10,000 new cases of incident dementia per year just in this age group…” The age group includes people between 75 and 84 years of age.
If you would like to learn much more about the inside story of PPIs and adverse reactions from a heartburn pill, you may wish to look over our People’s Pharmacy Special Health Alert. You will see some fascinating comments about this new risk from visitors to this website.
