Neurology: August, 2023

Cumulative use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for more than 4.4 years is associated with an increased risk for dementia, according to a study published in Neurology.

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This study evaluated whether the current and cumulative use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are associated with a higher risk of incident dementia.

The researchers identified 585 incident cases of dementia over follow-up.

Compared with no PPI use, long-term cumulative use (>4.4 years) of PPIs from mid- to late life was associated with a 33.0% increased risk of dementia in late life.

Of note, current use in late life or shorter-term use in midlife was not associated with a higher risk of dementia in late life.

Since PPIs completely shut down the acid pump, but H2 blockers only partially block the production acid, H2 blockers appear to be safer in the long term. 

This study suggests that long-term cumulative PPI use increases the risk of dementia.