NSAIDs may prevent Alzheimer's

The long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs can lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease, which is a degenerative disorder, that destroys brain cells. It leads to a decline in mental function affecting memory, thinking, language and behaviour. The disease affects people more than 65 years old. Dementia is a general decline in mental ability and Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause. This study was carried out at the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It was based on the pharmacy records of nearly 7,000 people in the Netherlands aged 55 and older. The researchers checked the prescriptions of NSAIDs such as diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen. According to the study, adults who used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for at least 2 years were 80% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, compared with individuals who used these drugs for shorter periods or who did not take them at all. This risk reduced as the number of years that patients continued to take the drugs increased. The results suggested that long-term use of NSAIDs has a beneficial effect on the risk of Alzheimer's disease. However they found no benefit when drugs were taken 2 years before a diagnosis of Alzheimer's, suggesting that they may be ineffective in those showing early signs of the disease or those already diagnosed with this illness. Exactly how NSAIDs may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease is still unclear.

COMMENT