A study has shown that a common drug in everyday use may increase the risk of developing dementia by 33%.
News media, Wales Online, in a report said that the study was published in Neurology.
“A recent study has sounded the alarm over the potential dementia risks associated with long-term use of common acid reflux medications, suggesting a 33% increase in the likelihood of developing the condition” the report read.
“The eye-opening research, unveiled this week, indicates that prolonged consumption of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) exceeding four and a half years could inadvertently boost the odds of succumbing to the cognitive disorder.”
According to the report, acid reflux, characterised by the unpleasant ascent of stomach acid into the oesophagus, can lead to heartburn and even ulcers.
It claimed that chronic sufferers may experience gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD), which poses an additional threat to esophageal cancer.
The report stated that with up to 40% of people in Britain experiencing regular heartburn, GORD is a familiar foe.
It further said that PPIs are commonly prescribed to combat this issue by inhibiting the production of stomach acid.
Despite their effectiveness, PPIs have been embroiled in controversy as a result of their associations with increased risks of strokes, bone fractures and kidney problems.
“The latest insights from US researchers, detailed in the journal Neurology, stop short of establishing a causal link between PPIs and dementia but do underline a worrisome association,” Wales Online quotes the Mirror as saying.
Professor Kamakshi Lakshminarayan speaking on the matter said: “Proton pump inhibitors are a useful tool to help control acid reflux, however, long-term use has been linked in previous studies to a higher risk of stroke, bone fractures and chronic kidney disease.
“Still, some people take these drugs regularly, so we examined if they are linked to a higher risk of dementia. While we did not find a link with short-term use, we did find a higher risk of dementia associated with long-term use of these drugs.”