- One study looked at drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) over decades
- Taking it for more than 4.5 years was associated with a 33% higher risk of dementia
- READ MORE: Alzheimer’s first warning sign could be a bizarre symptom
Taking heartburn medication for more than four and a half years could increase your risk of developing dementia later in life.
One study looked at drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which are taken by more than 15 million people in the US and UK each year for acid reflux and heartburn.
The researchers analyzed 5,712 people aged 45 to 64 when they were recruited for a health study in the late 1980s.
Volunteers were regularly asked what medications they had been taking up to an average age of 75 in 2011 to calculate the duration of PPI use.
Evidence from studies in mice suggests that the drugs – which are available on prescription in the UK under the brand names Losec and Pyrocalm (pictured) – may also be linked to the accumulation in the brain of a protein called beta-amyloid seen in humans Alzheimer’s disease
The drugs work by reducing the amount of acid the stomach produces and are commonly used to treat indigestion, heartburn, and acid reflux. Pictured: Losec, which is available by prescription in the UK
A new study found that regular use of proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec (above) was associated with a 33% increased risk of being diagnosed with dementia
They were then followed up for an average of five and a half years. During this time, about 10 percent of them developed dementia.
The study found that people who had taken PPI medications for more than 4.4 years had a 33 percent greater risk of developing dementia than people who did not take the medication at all during the study period.
Experts suspect that taking these drugs for a long time can lead to lower levels of vitamin B12, which can lead to brain problems.
Evidence from studies in mice suggests that the drugs – which are available on prescription in the UK under the brand names Losec and Pyrocalm – may also be linked to the buildup in the brain of a protein called beta-amyloid, which occurs in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
dr Kamakshi Lakshminarayan, senior author of the study from the University of Minnesota, said, “Further research is needed to confirm our findings and to explore reasons for the possible association between long-term use of proton pump inhibitors and a higher risk of dementia.”
“Although there are different ways to treat acid reflux, such as For example, taking antacids, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding late meals and certain foods, different approaches may not work for everyone.
“It’s important that people taking these medications speak to their doctor before making any changes to discuss the best treatment for them and because stopping these drugs abruptly can lead to worsening symptoms.”
Acid reflux is when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, usually after a meal or while lying down, which can cause heartburn and ulcers.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reduce stomach acid by targeting the enzymes in the lining of the stomach that produce the acid.
The study, published in the journal Neurology, found no difference in the risk of dementia in people who took PPIs for less than 4.4 years.
Previous studies have found no link between the drugs and dementia. However, this could be because the majority has not paid attention to long-term use and dementia takes a long time to develop.
The higher risk of dementia for people who took the drugs for more than 4.4 years was found even after accounting for other factors that might increase people’s risk of the memory-stealing disease.
These included their age, whether they had high blood pressure, and whether they had a relatively common genetic mutation that makes them more likely to develop dementia.
However, the study wasn’t entirely accurate, as the over-45s were only asked each year if they were taking PPI medication, or if their prescriptions were checked for it.
This was counted as a full year of taking the medication each time, even though people may have stopped taking it during the year.
This means the apparent threshold of 4.4 years at which the drugs were associated with a higher risk of dementia may not be accurate.