Prevent or Delay Dementia

Many epidemiological and observational studies have reported that the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduces the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the elderly. To date, there have been no clinical trials to support these claims, and there are just as many studies that report conflicting results. In a recent issue of Neurology, study authors reported that heavy NSAID use was actually associated with an increased risk for dementia.
The authors claim that NSAIDs do not prevent the onset of dementia, but may simply delay it, leading to an increased appearance of dementia in older patients. The study participants included more than 3000 adults aged 65 years or older. Approximately 25% of the subjects were over 80 years old. At baseline, all participants showed normal cognitive function. Their cognitive function was evaluated every two years for 12 years using the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument. The researchers also collected data on each subject’s NSAID use, and divided the drug exposure into light or no use, moderate use, or heavy use categories.