login | register

Ibuprofen appears not to prevent Alzheimer's among very elderly

in
Date published: 
Thursday, April 23, 2009
News source: 
The Alzeimer's Research Trust
Region: 
United Kingdom
Featured item on home page: 
no

A study published in the journal Neurology has shown that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do not prevent Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia.

This contrasts with previous findings, which suggested that NSAIDs may prevent dementia, or reduce dementia risk.
 
The discrepancy could be because this new research looks at a much older age group than was previously studied.
 
The researchers identified 2,736 people who did not have dementia when they enrolled in the study at an average age of 75. The investigators followed these people for 12 years to see if they developed Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. They checked pharmacy records for NSAIDs (tracking both prescriptions and over-the-counter use) and also asked participants about their use of NSAIDs.

Study author Eric B Larson, said:
"Although we hoped to find a protective effect, there was none. Thus, for this age group, there's no basis for taking NSAIDs to prevent Alzheimer's disease. Our study in this quite elderly population showed more risk of dementia with NSAIDs, especially when used heavily."
 
Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said:
“There are no clear results about whether NSAIDs like ibuprofen have any effect on dementia. Work in this area is complicated; many factors can interfere with the findings.
 
“We know that inflammation is involved in Alzheimer’s – so investigating the effects of anti-inflammatory drugs makes sense. Much more work needs to be done to find out about the causes of dementia, which will lead us to the answers we desperately need.
 
“We do not advise that people take aspirin or ibuprofen just to try to protect against dementia, as they can cause dangerous side-effects, including stomach ulcers and kidney problems. Always consult a medical professional if you are concerned about your health.
 
“With the number of Britons with Alzheimer's forecast to double to 1.4 million within a generation, we urgently need to fund more research to find better treatments."
 

 

Back to top