RESEARCH - Anti-inflammatory drugs do not prevent dementia, Alzheimer's disease

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From Medscape Medical News

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Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Do Not Prevent Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease

April 23, 2009 — Contrary to previous reports, a new study suggests

that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do not prevent

dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), but may simply delay

disease onset.

The study showed that compared with nonuse of NSAIDs, heavy use of

these drugs was associated with a 66% increased risk for dementia.

The authors speculate that earlier research found less dementia in

NSAID users because those studies included relatively young

populations, and therefore the true action of NSAIDs delays the onset

of dementia rather than suppressing the disorder.

However, at this point this is merely a hypothesis, and the question

of why this study shows NSAIDs may cause dementia while other research

shows the opposite is still an open one, said study author C. S.

Breitner, MD, from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the

University of Washington School of Medicine, in Seattle.

" There's no escaping the fact that this study found that NSAID users

have more dementia in their 80s than nonusers. But this and earlier

studies do not form a basis for clinical-practice decisions, " Dr.

Breitner told Medscape Neurology.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/701813

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