Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero / The Daily Beast / Getty
Acid reflux, commonly known as heartburn, sends roughly 15 million Americans reaching for medicines like Prilosec or Nexium for relief each day. While these medications can offer great relief after meals and drinks, they may also inadvertently lead to some serious side effects.
A study published Wednesday in the journal Neurology from researchers at the American Academy of Neurology found that patients who take certain acid reflux medications called proton pump inhibitors (PPI) for 4.4 years or more have a higher risk of dementia than those who do not take them. These patients have a 33 percent higher risk of developing the neurodegenerative condition.
However, it’s important to note that the study just found an association between dementia and PPIs. It does not indicate that these acid reflux meds cause dementia. It will take more research to understand exactly what the link is, and whether it will require people to change their habits around taking such medications.