A study from Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark explores whether taking proton pump inhibitors, a common class of gastrointestinal medications that suppress stomach acid, might be linked to an increased risk of dementia. The findings were published in a journal focused on dementia research.
Researchers set out to assess the long term effects of proton pump inhibitors and drew on a large population database. The study included 983,785 adults aged 60 to 75 who did not have dementia at the start and were not using medications for cognitive impairment. Participants were followed for a substantial period, extending over 18 years, to observe the development of dementia and any related cognitive outcomes.
During the follow up, dementia developed in 99,384 participants. Among those who developed dementia, about 21.2% had used at least two different PPI drugs at some point during the study, while 18.9% of participants who did not develop dementia had used PPIs. The data suggested that the risk of severe cognitive impairment was more pronounced in individuals who had used proton pump inhibitors for more than 15 years. The analysis also pointed to a higher frequency of dementia among people aged 60 to 69 who regularly used PPIs.
The authors emphasize that the findings show an association, not a proven cause-and-effect relationship. The long duration of follow up helps reveal potential patterns, but there are multiple factors that could influence the results. These include other health conditions, lifestyle factors, concurrent medications, and variations in the underlying reasons for PPI use. As such, the study highlights a potential signal that warrants careful, ongoing monitoring rather than a directive to discontinue therapy without medical consultation.
Clinicians and researchers note that proton pump inhibitors are widely prescribed to treat conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcers. While this study adds to the body of evidence about possible links with cognitive health, it is one piece of a complex puzzle. Future work is needed to clarify whether PPIs contribute to cognitive decline directly, or if they are markers for other health conditions that themselves influence dementia risk. Healthcare providers should weigh the benefits of close gastric symptom control against any emerging data on cognitive outcomes, particularly for patients with extended exposure or multiple PPI medications.
In the future, independent analyses and replication studies will be important to determine the consistency of these observations across different populations and healthcare settings. The current results should be interpreted with caution and discussed with a physician who understands an individual patient’s medical history and risk factors. The study underlines the importance of a comprehensive approach to aging and brain health that integrates medication review, lifestyle factors, and regular cognitive screening as part of routine medical care. & Dementia aggregator study on PPI use and dementia risk.