Drug taken for common condition linked to 33% higher risk of dementia

Long-term use of a common acid reflux medication could hike dementia risk by a whopping 33 percent, startling new research suggests. The health study, which delves into the effects of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), found that individuals on these drugs for over four and a half years might be signing up for more than just heartburn relief.

Acid reflux, the pesky condition where stomach acid decides to take a detour into your esophagus, can lead to not just an unpleasant burning sensation but also ulcers. Frequent flyers on the acid reflux express might end up with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD), which ups the ante to esophageal cancer risks.

GORD is no stranger to the US, plaguing up to 40% of folks with its fiery embrace. PPIs swoop in as the heroes, dialing down stomach acid production by putting a wrench in the stomach lining's enzyme works.

However, this isn't the first time PPIs have been the subject of side-eye glances; previous studies have linked them to increased chances of strokes, bone breaks, and kidney woes. Now, according to findings published in Neurology, there's a potential tie to dementia, though researchers are quick to clarify it's a correlation, not causation.

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Professor Kamakshi Lakshminarayan, the study's lead author, weighed in: "Proton pump inhibitors are a useful tool to help control acid reflux, however, long-term use has been linked in previous studies to a higher risk of stroke, bone fractures and chronic kidney disease. Still, some people take these drugs regularly, so we examined if they are linked to a higher risk of dementia."

"While we did not find a link with short-term use, we did find a higher risk of dementia associated with long-term use of these drugs."

The study focused on more than 5,700 individuals aged 45 and older who didn't have dementia at the beginning. The average participant age was 75.

To verify if the subjects were taking acid reflux medications, the researchers reviewed their medication history during visits and through annual phone conversations.

Of the total participants, 1,490 (26 percent) had been on the meds. They were segmented into four categories based on the duration of drug usage: those who hadn't taken them; those who had for up to 2.8 years; for 2.8 to 4.4 years; and for over 4.4 years.

The follow-up lasted about 5.5 years on average, where 585 participants (10 percent) went on to develop dementia. Among the 4,222 who never consumed the drugs, there were 415 cases of dementia, which equated to 19 instances per 1,000 person-years.

Person-years is a metric combining the number of individuals in the research with the amount of time each spends within the study framework. Of the 497 participants who had used the drugs for more than 4.4 years, 58 developed dementia, reflecting 24 cases per 1,000 person-years.

After crunching the numbers and considering factors like age, gender, and race, along with health issues such as hypertension and diabetes, researchers found that individuals popping acid reflux meds for over 4.4 years were staring down the barrel of a 33% increased risk of dementia compared to those who never touched the stuff.

The boffins didn't spot any heightened risk of the memory-stealing condition in folks who had been on the drugs for less than 4.4 years. Prof Lakshminarayan from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health weighed in: "More research is needed to confirm our findings and explore reasons for the possible link between long-term proton pump inhibitor use and a higher risk of dementia."

Treating acid reflux can be a bit of a balancing act, with options ranging from popping antacids to keeping trim, dodging late-night snacks, and steering clear of certain grub. But it's not a one-size-fits-all deal, and what works for one person might not cut it for another.

She underscored the importance of consulting with healthcare pros before ditching any meds, emphasizing, "It is important that people taking these medications speak with their doctor before making any changes, to discuss the best treatment for them, and because stopping these drugs abruptly may result in worse symptoms."