NSAID Reduction of AD Not Dependent on Suppression of Beta Amyloid

Last year, Johns Hopkins investigators found that use of NSAIDs reduced the risk of Alzheimer's disease by 37%. Closer examination of the data (from the Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study) revealed that the protective benefit of NSAIDs was confined to those individuals with an ApoE4 allele; however, the benefit was not attributable to the suppression of Aβ1-42 amyloid. 

Then earlier this month, a review of Veterans Affairs records showed that long-term use of NSAIDs reduced the odds of AD by 24%, and that a more substantial risk reduction was observed with ibuprofen and naproxen (odds reduction, 37%). However, like the Hopkins study, the Veterans records did not indicate a particular benefit with those NSAIDs that suppress Aβ1-42 amyloid.

Now comes a follow-up report from the same Hopkins investigators, who pooled data from 6 prospective studies* (N = 13,499). Again, the investigators found that the use of NSAIDs reduced the risk of AD by approximately one third. And also again, the risk reduction with NSAIDs that suppress Aβ1-42 amyloid was not higher than that with nonsuppressing NSAIDs. A substantial risk reduction with aspirin, but not acetaminophen, was also observed.

*Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, Cache County Study, Canadian Study of Health and Aging, Cardiovascular Health Study, Framingham Heart Study, and Monongahela Valley Independent Elders Study.

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