Study Links PPI Heartburn Drugs and Dementia

July 5, 2016 — A study has found that people who routinely use anti-heartburn drugs like Nexium and Prilosec are 44% more likely to develop dementia.

The study was published in February by JAMA Neurology. The conclusions were based on data from 73,679 people in Germany aged 75 or older.

Over the course of the study, 29,510 subjects were diagnosed with dementia, including 2,950 people who were on PPIs.

PPIs reduce stomach acid by decreasing the activity of an enzyme in cells lining the stomach. When PPIs cross the blood-brain barrier, some experts believe they could have unanticipated side effects on similar enzymes in the brain.

According to Scientific American, inhibiting acid production could impair the ability of cells in the brain to get rid of protein accumulations that are believed to cause dementia.

Other studies have found a link between Vitamin B12 deficiency and dementia. PPIs can cause vitamin deficiencies by making it harder for the stomach to break down foods, which is why the FDA has warned about bone fractures and osteoporosis.

Another recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine earlier this year found that PPI users were 20-50% more likely to develop Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Drug-makers are facing a growing number of lawsuits for downplaying the risk of kidney side effects.

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