If you’re referring to the recent headline about a daily medication taken by millions, it’s most likely talking about proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)—common acid-reducing medicines such as omeprazole, esomeprazole and lansoprazole.
A large observational study of 5,712 adults found that people who had accumulated more than 4.4 years of PPI use had about a 33% higher risk of developing dementia compared with those who hadn’t used PPIs.
But the headline needs an important qualification:
- It does not prove PPIs cause dementia. The study found an association, not causation.
- Short-term/current use wasn’t significantly associated with dementia in that study. The increased risk appeared with long-term cumulative use.
- PPIs are widely used for GERD/acid reflux, ulcers and other acid-related conditions, and they can be very effective when appropriately prescribed.
- The researchers themselves said further studies are needed to determine whether PPIs actually contribute to dementia or whether other factors explain the association.
Should you stop your medicine?
No—not based on this headline alone. If you’ve been taking omeprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole or another PPI regularly for years, it’s reasonable to ask your doctor or pharmacist whether you still need it, whether the dose can be reduced, or whether another treatment strategy is appropriate.
Also, don’t confuse this finding with proof that everyone taking a PPI has a 33% chance of developing dementia. A 33% relative increase is very different from a 33-percentage-point increase in absolute risk.
There are also other medications for which observational studies have reported dementia associations, so the specific drug and the quality of the evidence matter enormously.
