PEOPLE who use anti-inflammatory drugs over a long period of time may be at a lower risk of dementia regardless of the dosage, according to a Dutch study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Past research has suggested that inflammation may contribute to the development and progression of dementia, and that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications may help protect against dementia due to their anti-inflammatory effects.
In this large, new prospective study, a research team followed the NSAID usage of almost 12,000 people from 1991-2020 with an average age of 66 at the start.
By the end of the study, around 2,000 had developed dementia.
Long-term NSAID use (more than two years) was associated with a 12% reduced risk of developing dementia, but short- and intermediate-term use did not provide benefits.
The researchers said there was a link between long-term use of NSAIDs and a lower risk of developing dementia, but there was no association between the overall dosage of NSAID medication taken and dementia risk.
The researchers say this means prolonged exposure to NSAIDs may have potential for dementia prevention, rather than intensive exposure to the drugs.
The association could not be explained by the amyloid-lowering properties of specific NSAIDs, the researchers added.
"Although our results are an indication of the important role of inflammation in the treatment of dementia, they do not justify the recommendation of long-term treatment with NSAIDs for the prevention of dementia, given its potential adverse effects," the team cautioned, noting that NSAIDs are currently listed as potentially inappropriate medications in older adults.
"Our study provides evidence on possible preventive effects of anti-inflammatory medication against the dementia process," said author Professor M Arfan Ikram of University Medical Center Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.
"There is a need for more studies to further consolidate this evidence and possibly develop preventive strategies," he added.
Read the paper HERE. KB
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