Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), especially ibuprofen, was linked with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease in a new study from Boston University School of Medicine.
People who used ibuprofen for more than five years had a 40% lower risk of Alzheimer's, while those who took some other NSAIDs had a 25% lower risk. For example, indomethacin was linked with a lower risk, while celecoxib showed no effect on the risk of dementia.
"The reduced risk of Alzheimer's is seen with some NSAIDs, not all," says Steven Vlad, MD. "One reason may be that some, like ibuprofen, are commonly used for long periods."
The study, published in Neurology, looked at the effect of long-term use of specific NSAIDs on Alzheimer's risk, and whether drugs that lower amyloid beta-1-42 (Aβ1-42, the protein that builds up in the brain in Alzheimer's) were different. Patients were grouped by which NSAIDs they took and for how many years. The risk ratio fell from 0.98 in those who took NSAIDs for a year or less to 0.76 in those who took them for more than five years; for ibuprofen users it fell from 1.03 to 0.56. No benefit was found for COX-2 inhibitors or non-acetylated NSAIDs.
Too few patients took Aβ1-42-lowering NSAIDs such as sulindac and flurbiprofen to tell whether they have the same effect as ibuprofen. The study is a starting point for further research.
Update: clinical trials since then have not shown that taking NSAIDs prevents Alzheimer's disease, and long-term use carries risks such as stomach bleeding and kidney and heart problems. NSAIDs shouldn't be taken to prevent dementia.
Like
Love
Angry
Dislike
