Long-term use of certain acid reflux disease drugs may elevate the chance of developing dementia, latest research has found.

Individuals who take proton pump inhibitors (PPI) for treating acid reflux disease every single day for four-and-a-half years or more are at a 33% increased risk of developing dementia, based on the newest study published within the journal Neurology.

Dementia is the lack of the power to think, remember and make decisions. Greater than 55 million people have dementia worldwide, and over 6.7 million individuals aged 65 and above within the U.S. live with the condition.

What are PPI drugs?

Proton pump inhibitors are a category of medicines used for treating conditions corresponding to acid reflux disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and stomach ulcers. They function by reducing the quantity of stomach acid produced within the stomach lining.

Some examples of PPI are omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, pantoprazole, dexlansoprazole and Zegerid.

PPI and dementia

Researchers analyzed 5,712 participants aged 45 and above who didn’t have dementia firstly of the study. The participants were divided into 4 groups based on their PPI intake: those that didn’t use PPI, those that used it for as much as 2.8 years, those that used it from 2.8 to 4.4 years and people who used it for greater than 4.4 years. They followed up for a median of 5.5 years.

Out of the participants, 26% had taken PPIs. By the top of the study, 10 % of the entire participants developed dementia.

The findings suggest individuals who took PPI drugs for over 4.4 years had a 33% higher probability of developing dementia in comparison with those that never used these medications.

“This study doesn’t prove that acid reflux disease drugs cause dementia. It only shows an association. More research is required to substantiate our findings in other large study groups and understand the possible link between long-term proton pump inhibitor use and better risk of dementia,” Dr. Kamakshi Lakshminarayan, a lead writer of the study, said.

Researchers imagine overuse of PPIs may cause a deficiency of vitamin B12 and impair amyloid metabolism, that are the aspects linked to dementia.

“Some studies have shown that the usage of acid reflux disease drugs could also be related to low B12 levels. And low B12 is related to impaired considering and poor memory,” Lakshminarayan added. Nevertheless, the study didn’t evaluate the vitamin B12 levels of the participants.

Alternative strategies to handle acid reflux disease

1. Lifestyle changes – Easy lifestyle changes corresponding to losing a few pounds for obese people and quitting smoking can assist improve acid reflux disease issues.

2. Adjust your sleep position – Studies show sleeping on the left side can assist reduce acid reflux disease at night. Elevating the pinnacle using a pillow while sleeping can even help.

3. Have early dinner – Avoiding heavy meals at night and eating dinner just a few hours before sleep will reduce reflux symptoms at night. Avoiding high-fat, high-carb food and limiting carbonated beverages also assist in solving issues with digestion and heartburn.

4. Limit alcohol and caffeine – Drinking coffee and excess quantities of alcohol increases the severity of heartburn.

Published by Medicaldaily.com