The Tangled Neuron

Ibuprofen, Naproxen and other NSAIDs for Alzheimer’s

Large observational studies have linked regular use of painkillers such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) with lowered risk of Alzheimer’s, but clinical trials have not backed this up. The publication of the results of two new studies this month didn’t do much to resolve this issue. In the first study, Boston University researchers analyzed the medical records of hundreds of thousands of military veterans, and found long-term use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), particularly ibuprofen, was associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s.

A detailed analysis of the results of the second study, ADAPT (Alzheimer's Disease Anti-inflammatory Prevention Trial), was published this month. It showed that neither naproxen nor another NSAID, celecoxib, improved thinking and memory in more than 2000 men and women 70 years and older who had a family history of Alzheimer’s. Naproxen actually seemed to worsen cognition. The trial was stopped early because scientists worried about the side effects of the two painkillers.

Differences in study design could explain these conflicting results.

Constantine Lyketsos, MD, MPH

The various studies tested different NSAIDs at different dosages in different populations for different lengths of time. It’s also possible that there were “confounding factors” in the population studies – maybe people who take NSAIDs had later onset of Alzheimer’s because they had higher education levels or better overall health, for example.

So, what DO we know about NSAIDs and memory loss? “After the onset of dementia, anti-inflammatory treatment does not seem to work,” says Dr. Constantine Lyketsos, one of the researchers involved in ADAPT. “The data are pretty strong.” Dr. Lyketsos is Director of the Memory and Alzheimer’s Treatment Center at Johns Hopkins University and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. 

If treatment with NSAIDs does not seem to be effective, what about prevention?

Aspirin: Good or Bad for your Memory?

Summary: Two recent studies do not show that aspirin helps memory loss. The painkiller may increase the risk of bleeding in the brain.

When my father first complained about his memory, his doctor told him to take a baby aspirin every day. After seeing headlines like “An aspirin a day to keep Alzheimer’s away?” I thought this was good advice.

Aspirin is one of several NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) that have been tested for prevention or treatment of memory loss. Results from two recent studies make it less likely your doctor will recommend the drug for memory loss.

Webcast: The Myth of Alzheimer's

If you want to congratulate Dr. Peter Whitehouse and Danny George for writing their book The Myth of Alzheimer’s, let them know how wrong you think they are, or are just plain curious, here’s your chance. They’ll be featured on a HealthTalk webcast tomorrow night (Wednesday, May 14th) at 7 PM eastern. Details are on the registration page at the HealthTalk site.

Chuck Jackson to Testify at U.S. Senate Hearing on Alzheimer’s

My friend Chuck Jackson, who along with many family members has early onset Alzheimer’s disease, will testify at a U.S. Senate hearing on Alzheimer’s tomorrow (Wednesday May 14th). The hearing starts at 10:30 AM eastern time. A link to the live webcast will be available at http://aging.senate.gov/.

Note:  you can now watch the webcast of the full hearing at any time, or read a transcript of Chuck's testimony.

Orien Reid Nix: Alzheimer’s Disease International and Baby Boomers at the Crossroads

Orien Reid Nix is a baby boomer with a family history of dementia. She is also Chair of Alzheimer’s Disease International.

Last week, she gave a keynote address at the Wisconsin State Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders in Milwaukee. In her talk, she focused on the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s on baby boomers, both as they care for their elders and as they develop their own memory problems.

Orien Reid Nix and Corinne Reid Owens

Ms. Reid Nix was accompanied by her aunt, Corinne Reid Owens, a civil rights activist in Wisconsin. Ms. Owens is 95, and does not have Alzheimer’s. But several of Ms. Reid Nix’s family members, including her mother, had the disease. In her speech, she talked about the challenges of caring for her mother while still caring for her children – a common situation these days. Estimates of the number of Americans in the “sandwich generation” run as high as 20 million. There’s even a new term, “club sandwich generation,” to describe people who are caring for three generations.