Anti-inflammatory drugs will not prevent Alzheimer's disease and in fact may increase the risk of dementia, a new study indicates.

Previous research suggested that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as the pain relievers ibuprofen and naproxen may prevent Alzheimer's disease.

However, according to a new 12-year study of more than 2,700 people, the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or dementia is 66% higher in people who heavily use NSAIDs, compared to those who don’t use NSAIDs.

The researchers, from the University of Washington, said: “Although we hoped to find a protective effect, there was none.

“We must not ignore the fundamental finding, which is an increase in the risk of dementia in the NSAID users. We need further research to understand that result more clearly.”

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia currently affects approximately 38,000 people in Ireland but, due to Ireland’s rapidly ageing population, that number is predicted to rise to 58,000 by 2021 and 104,000 by 2036.

A spokesperson from the Alzheimer’s Research Trust in the UK, said: “We know that inflammation is involved in Alzheimer’s – so investigating the effects of anti-inflammatory drugs makes sense.

“But much more work needs to be done to find out about the causes of dementia”.
 
The study was published in the journal Neurology.

For more information on dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, visit irishhealth.com's Alzheimer Clinic at...http://www.irishhealth.com/clin/alzheim/index.html