Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and the risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimers Dement. 2012 May;8(3):219-26. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2011.03.012.

Abstract

Background: Some observational studies have established an association between exposure to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and a decreased risk of subsequently developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mild cognitive impairment or cognitive impairment, not dementia (CIND) is more likely to convert to AD, and no specific preventive method is currently available. The objective of this study was to determine the association of NSAID use in 5276 cognitively normal subjects of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging, a 10-year population-based cohort study, with the incidence of CIND, AD, and all-cause dementia.

Methods: Hazard ratios were calculated from Cox proportional hazards models with age as the time scale according to three study samples including 824 cases of dementia (563 cases of AD), 630 cases of dementia (435 cases of AD), and 883 cases of CIND, respectively. Adjustments were made for gender, education, lifestyle factors, comorbid diseases, and vascular risk factors.

Results: Lower risks for AD and all-cause dementia were significantly associated with the use of any NSAIDs and the salicylates without barbiturates subgroup in the study sample including subjects with CIND at baseline. There was a weak association between any NSAIDs and the risk of CIND (hazard ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.76-1.00).

Conclusion: These results suggest that there is an association between NSAID use and a lower incidence of AD and, to a lesser extent, of CIND.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / chemically induced*
  • Alzheimer Disease / epidemiology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / adverse effects*
  • Cognition Disorders / chemically induced*
  • Cognition Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal