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Proton pump inhibitors (heartburn meds) linked with increased risk of dementia

alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

21–30 of 42 posts

Re: Proton pump inhibitors (heartburn meds) linked with increased risk of dementia

#21

Somewhat tangential, but I have a story about acid reflux that I think is worth sharing for anyone who is in a similar boat. Basically, I was having reflux symptoms minus the heartburn. Lots of throat issues, digestive issues, coughing, etc. My doctor looked everything over and concluded that reflux was the most likely cause and we did a treatment of PPIs for a few weeks. The PPI didn't help, but by the time the trea…

A very timely comment for me. I’ve been experiencing some throat/coughing issues for a couple months now. Doctor doesn’t think it was covid, but who knows. I did, however, stop taking a nasal steroid I had been using for a few years right around the same time the symptoms started. Maybe I’ll start using it again and see what happens. Thanks.

Re: Proton pump inhibitors (heartburn meds) linked with increased risk of dementia

#22

Somewhat tangential, but I have a story about acid reflux that I think is worth sharing for anyone who is in a similar boat. Basically, I was having reflux symptoms minus the heartburn. Lots of throat issues, digestive issues, coughing, etc. My doctor looked everything over and concluded that reflux was the most likely cause and we did a treatment of PPIs for a few weeks. The PPI didn't help, but by the time the trea…

which allergy medications worked best for you? I also have the same issues.

Re: Proton pump inhibitors (heartburn meds) linked with increased risk of dementia

#23

This is just anecdotal, but I've had problems with heartburn for years and am having great succes with betaine hcl + pepsin supplements. This actually increases stomach acid. That + dietary changes almost completely cleared my problems. Just throwing it out there. YMMV.

What dietary changes? Idk if what I have is heartburn but the past 2 months or so I have been waking up to horrific stomach aches. Taking a round of Prilosec seems to have helped it. But I may want to backpedal on it given this news.

Typically people are asked to avoid acidic foods (tomatoes, citrus), raw onions, chocolate, caffeine, sodas, peppermint and high fat foods.

Re: Proton pump inhibitors (heartburn meds) linked with increased risk of dementia

#24

This is just anecdotal, but I've had problems with heartburn for years and am having great succes with betaine hcl + pepsin supplements. This actually increases stomach acid. That + dietary changes almost completely cleared my problems. Just throwing it out there. YMMV.

Along these lines, not drinking excessively with meals can help, since you're not dilluting your stomach acid.

Re: Proton pump inhibitors (heartburn meds) linked with increased risk of dementia

#25
post #12

Off-topic: Maybe it's just me, and this is not important in the least, but I have been always slightly irritated by the use of the term "proton" in chemistry which they use to denote the (positive) hydrogen ion. Two reasons: unlike "electron", the term "proton" belongs in physics exclusively and not chemistry which only deals with point-like nuclei carrying mass plus an electric charge, and the electron cloud; the ot…

> the use of the term "proton" in chemistry which they use to denote the (positive) hydrogen ion H+/K+ ATPase is a proton pump, not a hydrogen ion pump. It evolved to pump protons, and mostly pumps protons. > the term "proton" belongs in physics exclusively and not chemistry which only deals with point-like nuclei carrying mass plus an electric charge, and the electron cloud Lots of biological machinery fails with he…

I agree with the GP. Biology is chemistry, and the hydrogen electron shell is what's important in chemistry, not the nucleus. If the proton didn't act as a hydrogen nucleus, we wouldn't use the term PPI at all.

Heavy water being (slightly) toxic doesn't have any bearing on the larger point.

Re: Proton pump inhibitors (heartburn meds) linked with increased risk of dementia

#26

Somewhat tangential, but I have a story about acid reflux that I think is worth sharing for anyone who is in a similar boat. Basically, I was having reflux symptoms minus the heartburn. Lots of throat issues, digestive issues, coughing, etc. My doctor looked everything over and concluded that reflux was the most likely cause and we did a treatment of PPIs for a few weeks. The PPI didn't help, but by the time the trea…

Anedcote from me: I took Omeprazole for years and had to stop when I entered USMC bootcamp. All stomach issues disappeared when I started exercising and eating right. That was over 10 years ago and to this day my stomach is fine. I've kept up the habit of eating well and exercising mildly.

TL;DR change your eating habits and exercise before trying to solve everything with a drug

Re: Proton pump inhibitors (heartburn meds) linked with increased risk of dementia

#27
post #11

I remember aluminum and particularly aluminum hydroxide as a heartburn drug was linked to dementia before. Nothing happened, because proofing causation seems close too impossible ruling out other confounders. I wonder without understanding all of the reasoning if this is any different? Can you prove sth. without an intervention?

I don't know, but where I live, it's basically impossible to buy these anymore.

Re: Proton pump inhibitors (heartburn meds) linked with increased risk of dementia

#29

While there are some eyebrow-raising studies suggesting the correlation between PPI use and dementia, it is far from settled science. There are conflicting studies, and some meta-analyses suggest no association. Of course, studies saying drugs are safe don't make the news. "No association between proton pump inhibitor use and risk of dementia: Evidence from a meta‐analysis" Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology…

This article is stating a correlation but the reason they did this is that there is molecular evidence for cholinergic pathways in the body, and drugs which are anti-cholinergic, causing Alzheimer's because of this system being integral to the development of Alzheimer's disease. The whole reason they decided to do this correlational study - and other studies like it - is because they have evidence that this cholinerg…

> There seems to be a lot of evidence pointing to this, and while its still an emerging area I'm confused as to how you are stating that this system and these drugs that interact with it, which has a lot of evidence that it is part of the disease pathophysiology, are weak on evidence?

Because there is evidence to the contrary, which I posted. Some even from a few months ago.

My goal is to bring balance to the discussion. Too often we see only the headlines that something might cause ${DREADED_DISEASE}, but ignore studies saying the opposite. It's a play on fear.

> What is your background and the experience you have to be able to state what you just said?

This is needlessly confrontational.

My background: PhD in chemistry. While relatively unrelated, I do know how to read and find follow-up research. My interest also stems from taking a PPI, and hearing only the one side from concerned family members.

Re: Proton pump inhibitors (heartburn meds) linked with increased risk of dementia

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the use of the term "proton" in chemistry which they use to denote the (positive) hydrogen ion H+/K+ ATPase is a proton pump, not a hydrogen ion pump. It evolved to pump protons, and mostly pumps protons. > the term "proton" belongs in physics exclusively and not chemistry which only deals with point-like nuclei carrying mass plus an electric charge, and the electron cloud Lots of biological machinery fails with he…

I agree with the GP. Biology is chemistry, and the hydrogen electron shell is what's important in chemistry, not the nucleus. If the proton didn't act as a hydrogen nucleus, we wouldn't use the term PPI at all. Heavy water being (slightly) toxic doesn't have any bearing on the larger point.

>hydrogen electron shell is what's important in chemistry, not the nucleus

The kinetic isotope effect would like to have a word with you.

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