Ibuprofen is a commonly used anti-inflammatory drug that reduces inflammation and also relieves pain and fever in high doses. Previous studies of links between Alzheimer's and anti-inflammatories have been equivocal. However, Steven Vlad, from Boston University, says that it may be that specific types of anti-inflammatories have an effect, rather than the drug class.

In this study, researchers looked at the effect of long term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) use in 49 000 patients and matched them with 196 000 controls from the same population. The investigation was on the effect of NSAIDs on the formation of beta-amyloid plaque, the hallmark feature of Alzheimer's.

They found that there was a reduction in risk with all NSAIDs, but that ibuprofen use provided a more marked risk reduction. However, researchers say that this study does not justify using NSAIDs as a way of preventing dementia and that further research is needed.

[6 May 2008 13:34]

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