The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7217 p428
28 September 2002

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

News summary

Related websites
Neurology (www.neurology.org)

NSAID use could reduce Alzheimer's risk

Alzheimer's disease is less prevalent in people with a history of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, according to the results of an American study (Neurology 2002;59:880).

Researchers investigated medicine use among 3,227 people aged 65 years and over, 104 of whom were identified as having Alzheimer’s disease. They found that the longer people had been taking NSAIDs, the lower their chance of developing dementia. Those who had been taking NSAIDs for over two years more than halved their risk of Alzheimer’s (hazard ratio 0.42, confidence interval 0.16–0.90).

The researchers conclude that regular use of aspirin and other NSAIDs may reduce dementia risk among the elderly, but only if taken for over two years. They add that recently initiated trials are unlikely to show similar treatment effects, unless participants are followed for a number of years.