Heartburn Medications Side Effects: Popular Heartburn Drugs Can Increase the Risk of Dementia

A recent study making rounds on the web suggests that a certain heartburn drug known as Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) can increase the risk of having dementia. PPIs containing Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid work on reducing the amount of stomach acid and are widely used in treating diseases such as stomach ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

According to ValleyNewsLive, PPI users whose age range from 75 and older had a higher risk in dementia compared to non-users of the same age. The study conducted by a group of German researchers was published on Feb. 15, Monday, in JAMA Neurology, showing a statistical data of 29,510 out of 73,679 patients being diagnosed with dementia after seven years.

Moreover, it was then added that out of the 29,510 dementia patients, 2,950 of them were regular users of the drug. While the avoidance of taking PPIs can prevent the formation of dementia over the course of time, researchers claimed that further studies about the relation between the medicine and the disease should be done first before wrapping up another result.

"Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used for treatment of gastrointestinal diseases but have also been shown to be potentially involved in cognitive decline," the study reads, according to TechTimes. "The avoidance of PPI medication may prevent the development of dementia."

The intake of the medication can be put off if the heartburn is still at its early stages. It was also said that the exact reason as to why the PPIs are affecting the aging of the brain is still yet to be determined. Findings likewise claimed that there is nothing serious to be too worried about for patients who are really in need to keep the medication.

"We don't know what is causing the brain to deteriorate. Until we know this, there's no reason for people who are taking PPIs to be too concerned about that and stop taking those agents if they are needed," director at North Shore-LIJ Health System in NY, Dr. Gisele Wolf-Klein explained.

Is there a way to avoid PPIs and prevent the risk of heartburns at the same time? Heartburn prevention decreases the risk of dementia among patients regularly taking PPIs and several anti-heartburn diets including a regular exercise will help, at the very least.