Can a heartburn drug cause cognitive problems? By Matthew Solan, Harvard Men’s Health Watch. POSTED MARCH 21, 2016, 9:30 AM , UPDATED JUNE 23, 2020. A new study has shed light on one of the long-term effects of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These drugs are commonly used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heartburn, and…...