PPIs and Risk of Death (AUDIO) Washington University School of Medicine Your browser does not support the audio element. Caption Drugs called proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, help alleviate symptoms from heartburn and ulcers by reducing levels of stomach acid, but they also have been linked to problems such as fractures, dementia and kidney disease. And a new study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that people who take ppis for a long time also appear to be at an increased risk of death. Jim Dryden has more... Credit Washington University BioMed Radio Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.