A research team from Aarhus University reports a link between long-term use of stomach acid–reducing drugs and an elevated dementia risk. The findings appear in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia, outlining patterns observed over years of patient data.
Proton pump inhibitors, commonly prescribed to lower stomach acid, were analyzed across a large population. The study drew from nearly two million individuals aged 60 to 75, with dementia outcomes tracked from 2000 to 2018. A vast control group of around 469 thousand people provided a baseline for comparison.
Across the dataset, PPI usage correlated with higher all-cause dementia risk, especially among those diagnosed between ages 60 and 69. In this younger bracket, dementia cases were about 1.25 to 1.59 times more frequent among PPI users than nonusers, with the magnitude of the risk tied to how long the medications were taken. The association was smaller for people aged 70 to 79, and no clear link emerged for individuals older than 89.
The interpretation is that long-term PPI use is associated with an elevated risk of dementia, but this does not establish causation. The possibility of reverse causality exists, where early dementia stages may involve changes in stomach acid production. Additional studies are needed to confirm whether PPIs directly affect dementia risk and to uncover the underlying mechanisms.
Earlier research has explored lifestyle and dietary patterns aimed at lowering dementia risk in women, highlighting the broader interest in prevention strategies.