A study, published in Gastroenterology, sought to set the record straight on studies claiming proton pump inhibitor use contributed to dementia.
Paul Lochhead, PhD, of Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital, and colleagues conducted a prospective analysis of 13,864 patients in the Nurses' Health Study II. These patients completed a computerized neuropsychological test battery.
Researchers analyzed the patients through a multivariable linear regression model to establish associations between medications and cognitive scores. They also examined H2 receptor antagonists as a secondary aim.
Here's what they found:
1. There was a modest association between PPI use and speed and attention psychomotor scores.
2. When researchers controlled for H2RA use it lowered the magnitude of the score difference.
3. Among individuals who did not regularly use PPIs, H2RA use was associated with poorer cognitive scores. The strongest negative association was for learning and working memory.
Researchers concluded, "In an analysis of data from the Nurses’ Health Study II, we did not observe a convincing association between PPI use and cognitive function. Our data do not support the suggestion that PPI use increases dementia risk. Since our primary hypothesis related to PPI use, our findings for H2RAs should be interpreted with caution."