Ibuprofen/dementia link
Tuesday, 06 May 2008 12:56
New research has added to the growing body of evidence that some painkillers could protect people against Alzheimer's disease.
About 700,000 people in the UK have dementia, of which Alzheimer's is one form, and it is estimated this will rise to over a million by 2025.
Research has suggested that non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) could reduce the risk of developing dementia.
The latest study from scientists at the Boston University School of Medicine found that people who used the painkiller ibuprofen for over five years were more than 40 per cent less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.
They analysed over five years of data, including the use of several non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
As well as the specific ibuprofen link, the researchers found that people who used certain types of NSAIDS, for more than five years were 25 per cent less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.
Writing in the journal Neurology, the scientists say that while other NSAIDs such as indomethacin may have been associated with lower dementia risk, others including celecoxib did not affect risk.
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