PROLONGED USE OF PROTON POMP INHIBITORS AND
COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN OLDER ADULTS
ANNA MARIE HERGHELEGIU, GABRIEL IOAN PRADA*, RALUCA NACU
“Ana Aslan” National Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, 9 Cǎldǎrușani Str., Sector 1, Bucharest, Romania
*corresponding author: giprada@gmail.com
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Abstract:
Dementia is an irreversible severe impairment of cognitive function associated with age, which ultimately leads to loss of
independence and disability. Recent interest has been placed on potential pathological links between proton pump inhibitors
(PPI) and the neuropathology of dementia. This study evaluates the relationship between long term use of PPIs (more than >
6 months/year and more than > 3 consecutive years) and cognitive function in a sample of 74 subjects, 65 years of age and
older. The control group included an equal number of age-matched subjects. Patients in the study group had significantly
lower Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) (p = 0.004) and Clock Drawing Test (CDT) (p = 0.02) scores compared to
age matched controls. Prolonged utilization of PPIs resulted in a significant increase of dementia risk after controlling for
diabetes and hypertension in midlife (OR = 3.67; 95% CI; p = 0.002).

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