A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland has demonstrated that proton pump inhibitors, commonly used as antiulcer drugs in older patients, do not increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimers
The researchers aim was to evaluate the association between proton pump inhibitors and risk of clinically verified Alzheimer’s disease being diagnosed, as two other studies from Germany had reported an increased risk of dementia. Published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, the results of the study demonstrated no association.
Proton pump inhibitors are commonly used in older patients for antiulcer treatment. The study data was extracted from healthcare registers across Finland and included patients that had been newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s as well as patients that were matched in certain criteria for a comparison group.
The researchers concluded that proton pump inhibitor use was not associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, which they also found to be true when the therapy was used in the long-term (more than three years). However, they did specify that even though an increased risk was not found, long-term use of these drugs should be considered carefully as they have been linked to decreased calcium and vitamin B12 absorption as well as with serious intestinal infections (Clostridium difficile).
