Regular Use of This Common Painkiller May Lower Alzheimer's Risk

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin, have long been used in the world of medicine. From reducing inflammation and relieving pain to lowering fevers, these commonly used medications can treat a variety of issues. As it turns out, these popular drugs may also help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's.

According to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, the use of NSAIDs for two years and beyond lowered the risk of dementia for study participants. 

To examine the relationship between the use of the drugs and Alzheimer's disease, researchers utilized data from 11,745 participants included in the Rotterdam Study, an ongoing population-based study in the Netherlands. They used the individuals' pharmacy records to decipher oral NSAID use. 

They then divided the participants into four groups: No use, short-term use of less than one month, intermediate-term use between one month and two years, and long-term use of more than two years. 

For more than 14 years on average, the participants underwent regular dementia screening in addition to providing data on their cholesterol levels, blood pressure, BMI, smoking habits, and more. 

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During this period, more than 81 percent of participants used NSAIDs, with less than 6 percent using NSAIDs without beta-amyloid-42-lowering properties and 46 percent using a combo of non-beta-amyloid-42-lowering and beta-amyloid-42-lowering NSAIDs.

"These findings provide important insight in the relationship between inflammation and dementia risk, and suggest that prolonged rather than intensive exposure to anti-inflammatory medication may hold potential for dementia prevention," the study authors said. 

This isn't the first time research has linked NSAIDs to a lower risk of Alzheimer's either. Another study from the American Academy of Neurology also stated that people who used certain types of NSAIDs for five years or longer were 25 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. 

“Some of these medications taken long term decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, but it’s very dependent on the exact drugs used," study author Steven Vlad, MD, said in a statement. It doesn’t appear that all NSAIDs decrease the risk at the same rate. One reason ibuprofen may have come out so far ahead is that it's by far the most commonly used.”

While the study emphasizes the potential benefits of long-term NSAID use, more research is needed before these medications are recommended as a preventative measure.