Proton pump inhibitors, which are typically used to treat acid-related digestive problems, were not associated with a heightened risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Researchers examined information from the Adult Changes in Thought study, which included 3,484 adults, aged 65 and older, who did not have dementia at the beginning of the study. Researchers followed study participants for an average of about 7.5 years. They tested the participants every two years. They used the ACT study to determine which participants took PPIs and for how long.
The study shows 827 participants (23.7 percent) developed dementia — 670 with possible or probable Alzheimer's disease. PPI exposure was not associated with risk of dementia, even for people with high cumulative exposure.
"Although there are other safety concerns with long-term PPI use, results from our study do not support that these medications should be avoided out of concern about dementia risk," study authors concluded.