Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Advil, Aleve, Aspirin May Contribute to Alzheimer’s
Risk for Elderly: Not Prevent It
Key difference between this study and most of those
done earlier is that these participants were senior citizens; risk of
dementia among heavy NSAID users was 66% higher
April 23, 2009 – Some studies have suggested that
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as the pain relievers
Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen) and aspirin may prevent Alzheimer’s
disease. A new study, however, indicates that for the elderly NSAIDs may
actually increase the chances of being stricken with this dementia.
The study does indicate, however, that even for the
elderly NSAIDs may delay the onset of AD, but the researchers are
calling for a re-interpretation of earlier findings suggesting NSAIDs
can prevent the disease.
The research is published in the April 22, 2009,
online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American
Academy of Neurology.
Researchers identified 2,736 members of Group
Health, an integrated healthcare delivery system, 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 dementia. They checked
Group Health pharmacy records for NSAID prescriptions and also asked
participants about their use of NSAIDs.
Of the participants, 351 people had a history of
heavy use of NSAIDs at the start of the study, and another 107 people
became heavy NSAID users during the follow-up period. Heavy use was
defined as having prescriptions for NSAIDs 68 percent of the time or
more over a two-year period.
During the study, 476 people developed Alzheimer’s
disease or dementia. The risk of developing dementia among heavy NSAID
users was 66 percent higher than among people with little or no NSAID
use.
“A key difference between this study and most of
those done earlier is that our participants were older,” said study
author John C. S. Breitner, MD, MPH, of the Department of Veterans
Affairs and the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.
“It has been argued for some time that NSAID use
delays the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. It would follow that studies
looking at younger people who use NSAIDs would show fewer cases of
Alzheimer’s, while in groups of older people there might be more cases,
including those that would have occurred earlier if they had not been
delayed.”
“This is one interpretation of the results, but
other explanations are possible,” cautioned Breitner, who added, “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.”
The study was supported by the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, and the Paul B.
Beeson Career Development Awards in Aging Research Program.
The American Academy of Neurology, an association
of more than 21,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is
dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A
neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing,
treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as
multiple sclerosis, restless legs syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease,
narcolepsy, and stroke.
For more information about the American Academy of
Neurology, visit
www.aan.com.
