Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and dementia

The data from a number of studies clearly shows that medium or long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs - ibuprofen, neurofen etc) is associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in later life.

Most scientists assumed that NSAIDs had an effect on inflammation in the brain in Alzheimer's disease, though this has not been proven. NSAIDs are usually taken to reduce pain in conditions such as arthritis and it could not be conclusively excluded that the effect on the Alzheimer's disease was not linked to some other condition or be a side effect of the inflammation.

Aspirin is another painkiller with a different method of action but also effective against inflammatory pain.

Mahyar Etminan and co authors have identified all the English language publications since 1966 examining the effect of aspirin and NSAIDs on the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. The data from 15 publications was pooled and clearly demonstrates that use of NSAIDs reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's and that longer-term use (more than 2 years) is more effective than short-term use (less than one month). However, the authors could not demonstrate a preventative effect from taking aspirin on Alzheimer's disease.

The results are supported by research published in 2001 which indicated that the NSAIDs have the ability to alter the processing of one of the key proteins, called amyloid, in Alzheimer's disease. It is this protein that forms the damaging and nerve cell killing amyloid plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.

Unfortunately, the current NSAIDs cannot be recommended as treatments for Alzheimer's disease as they have significant and dangerous side effects that include bleeding into the stomach.

This research indicates that analogues of the present non-specific NSAIDs may provide possibilities for treatment or prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Trials for the effect on Alzheimer's disease with the less dangerous Cox-2 treatment for arthritis are underway.