Healthy living

Medicines and supplements

Ibuprofen may cut dementia risk

Mixed pills

People who use the painkiller ibuprofen regularly for many years may have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a large US study

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine collected data from nearly 250,000 US veterans aged 55 and over and found that those who had taken the painkiller for over five years were 44 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's.

Some other similar painkillers - known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - were also found to have a beneficial effect but ibuprofen appeared to be the most protective. However some, including celecoxib appeared to offer no protection against dementia.

The study, published in the journal Neurology, included more than 49,000 Alzheimer's sufferers, mostly male, with an average age of 74.

Previous studies looking at the link between NSAIDs, like Ibuprofen, and Alzheimer’s have had inconsistent results. The Boston team suggest that one reason for this may be because not all NSAIDs have the same beneficial effects.

‘Some of these medications taken long-term decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease,’ said study leader Dr. Steven Vlad. ‘But it's very dependent on the exact drugs used. It doesn't appear that all NSAIDs decrease the risk at the same rate.’

It is not fully understood why NSAIDs may have this protective quality but studies on mice have found that high doses of ibuprofen reduce the levels of protein deposits associated with Alzheimer's.

‘This interesting research demonstrates that long term use of particular NSAIDs, including ibuprofen, has a positive effect on reducing your risk of Alzheimer’s disease,’ said Clive Ballard, director of research at the Alzheimer’s Society.

‘Whilst this is important research it does not mean that people should start taking ibuprofen to reduce their risk of developing dementia. Long term use of NSAIDs is associated with a number of very significant side effects.’

Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, welcomed the research but was also quick to caution against the liberal use of painkillers to ward off dementia.

‘The apparent connection between ibuprofen and a reduced risk of dementia is no silver bullet, but indicates an exciting direction for future research,’ said Wood.

‘It is not advisable to take aspirin or ibuprofen to try to protect against dementia as they can cause dangerous side-effects, including stomach ulcers and kidney problems.‘

Useful articles
Useful websites

Back to top

Make a comment

 

Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.

Back to top