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**Hugh** · 20-02-2016, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by nashville

Just read on FB that the tablet Esomeprazole can give you Dementia , This is really a worry as I have to take one a day, Did anyone else this this story,

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2016/02Februa...onclusive.aspx

Quote:

"Indigestion pills taken by millions 'could raise the risk of dementia by 50%'," reports the Daily Mail.

This headline is about a class of prescription drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole. PPIs are widely used to treat heartburn (acid reflux), as well as stomach ulcers. They work by lowering acid production in the stomach.

The Mail's headline sounds scary, but is no cause for alarm. The research behind the story provides no strong reason to stop taking PPIs as prescribed.

The study looked at the risk of being diagnosed with dementia within a seven-year window in German adults aged over 75. About 3,000 were taking prescription PPIs and 70,000 were not.

Those taking PPIs had a 44% higher risk of developing dementia compared with those not taking them – but it's not accurate to say this was because of PPIs. The study couldn't prove this, and there are many other plausible explanations.

For a start, the two groups weren't very similar. Those taking PPIs had poorer health, and were more likely to be taking a greater number of medicines and have conditions linked to a higher risk of dementia.

A study where the characteristics of the two groups are more closely matched would be a useful next step.

It is not recommended that you suddenly stop taking PPIs, if you have been prescribed them, without first consulting your GP. Doing so could make your symptoms return suddenly...

...Conclusion

This study found people taking PPIs had a 44% higher risk of developing dementia in a seven-year period compared with those not taking the drugs. However, it's not accurate to say this was down to the PPIs – the study couldn't prove this, and there are many possible explanations.

For a start, the groups weren't very similar. Those taking PPIs had poorer health, and were more likely to be taking a number of medicines and have conditions linked to a higher risk of dementia, such as diabetes and heart disease.

After taking these factors into account in the analysis, the link between PPIs and dementia reduced from 66% to 44%.

It's possible this adjustment wasn't complete (residual confounding), or that many other factors not measured in this study could further explain the remaining risk increase (bias).

A study where the characteristics of the two groups are more closely matched would be a positive next step for this research area.

The study also focused solely on PPIs, which are mainly prescribed for the protection and management of stomach ulcers. It does not apply to indigestion treatments like over-the-counter antacid treatments you might take for heartburn or indigestion, which work in a different way by neutralising excess stomach acid.

These limitations mean you should not stop taking prescribed PPIs. The link with dementia is uncertain, and is likely to be outweighed by the benefit of protecting the stomach against ulceration, bleeding and irritation.