PPI Acid Blockers Associated with 36% Increased Risk of Dementia

Vitality101 Newsletter

Hello Reader,

Acid blockers known as Proton Pump Inhibitors, or simply PPIs (like Nexium and Prilosec), are the most common form of over-the-counter and prescription acid blockers. Now a new study out of Denmark shows that PPIs are a major risk factor for dementia.

In the study, researchers collected data on dementia diagnoses and prescription PPI use among two million Denmark citizens who were aged 60 to 65 approximately 20 years ago. Of those who had taken PPIs between those ages, incidence of a dementia diagnosis by age 90 was 36% higher than those who had not taken PPIs.

In another study, Curcumin (e.g., CuraMed® 750 mg 2x day) was as effective as PPIs, but caused side benefits instead of side effects. Pepcid, which is not a PPI, also did not have these toxicities and is much safer than PPIs.

Invitation: Awakening from Alzheimer's: Brain Health Breakthroughs

What: Video series on the latest in brain science
When: Tuesday, October 31st through Thursday, November 9th

You're invited to join us for this free online video series where 10 medical experts in brain health will discuss the latest breakthroughs in keeping your brain healthy. It's a 10-day event and when you register, you’ll receive an email each morning to watch that day's episode. If any of the below rings true to you, then this series is for you:

• You're worried that something feels a little off with your memory.
• You're taking care of someone with dementia.
• You're getting older and want to know how to protect yourself from mental decline.
• You're young and want to know how to start early in protecting your brain health (Alzheimer's starts manifesting in people as young as their 20s).
• You simply want the sharpest mind you can have every day.

Learn more about this event by watching the 5-minute traailer at the link below.

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Q&A With Dr. T

Question:

Dear Dr. Teitelbaum, I have been a fan of yours for many years. Your supplements have really helped me, and I have read your books on CFS/fibromyalgia. But I feel compelled to mention that melatonin is not for everyone. I have terrible nightmares if I take it, and I know of others who have too. The dreams tend to be very militaristic — mine were about Nazis. Horrible. I know of one teenager who was concussed in a car accident, and had awful dreams, but didn't know why. He thought it was from the concussion, and he was taking a high dose of melatonin. I found out about it's side effects from Dr. Weil's newsletter. He talked about the "unfortunate few" and  he was right. For a short time I thought it was heaven, but it quickly turned into hell! As soon as I stopped taking melatonin, the dreams stopped.

— Gwyneth

Answer:

Dear Gwyneth, 

Thank you very much for sharing this. It's not something I've seen much of, so it is really helpful to know about your getting nightmares with melatonin, and I'll keep that in mind for other people who also get nightmares. Another main driver for nightmares is when people's blood sugars drop in the middle of the night.

Do you have a question for Dr. T? Visit Ask Dr. T page at our website and send it to us (if a generally helpful question, we may ask for your permission to publish it here anonymously).

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