Common Painkillers Linked to Lower Dementia Risk

Which is a way of saying that chronic inflamation is indicated as involved with demetia.  Micro paracites anyone?

Can Ivermectin cross the blood brain barrier?

This is all indicative so far but at least we are looking.

Common Painkillers Linked to Lower Dementia Risk

Anti-inflammatory pain relievers may help reduce dementia risk, but experts stress that other preventive strategies should also be considered.

By George Citroner

3/20/2025Updated:3/22/2025

https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/nsaid-use-linked-to-lower-dementia-risk-5821328?

Long-term use of common pain relievers, known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen and naproxen, may reduce dementia risk by 12 percent, according to new research.

The study, which tracked more than 11,700 people for nearly 15 years, suggests anti-inflammatory drugs could play a role in dementia prevention—though experts caution that prolonged NSAID use carries significant health risks.

Currently, about 1 in 9 people aged 65 and older in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s, an incurable type of dementia.

“Our study provides evidence on possible preventive effects of anti-inflammatory medication against the dementia process,” corresponding author Dr. M. Arfan Ikram of Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam in the Netherlands, said in a press statement.

Study FindingsThe research, recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found that among participants, 81 percent had used NSAIDs at some point, with long-term users showing a 12 percent lower risk of developing dementia compared to non-users. “Use of NSAIDs was associated with lower dementia risk for long-term users,” the authors stated.

Conversely, those engaged in short-term or intermediate-term NSAID use faced slight increases in dementia risk.

Certain NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, indomethacin, and sulindac, have previously been shown to selectively decrease the production of amyloid-beta 42, a specific form of amyloid-beta protein that plays a significant role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, while others do not.

However, the findings showed reduced risk with the use of both amyloid-lowering and non-lowering NSAIDs, suggesting that the potential beneficial effects of NSAID use go beyond reduced amyloid deposition.

These include naproxen, rofecoxib, nabumetone, ketoprofen, meloxicam, celecoxib, phenylbutazone, etoricoxib, and valdecoxib.

The researchers emphasized that more is not necessarily better. “The cumulative dose of NSAIDs was not associated with decreased dementia risk,” they noted, indicating that higher amounts of NSAIDs do not necessarily confer additional protective benefits against dementia.

Researchers used a prospective cohort design based on the Rotterdam Study, which has tracked the health of residents in the Rotterdam area since 1990. The cohort included 11,745 dementia-free people aged 45 and older at baseline.

They examined pharmacy dispensing records for NSAID use starting in 1991 and categorized participants into four groups: nonuse, short-term use of less than one month, intermediate-term use of between one month and 24 months, and long-term use of more than 24 months.

Researchers then monitored participants’ medical records for dementia occurrences until Jan. 1, 2020, during which 2,091 people were diagnosed with the neurodegenerative condition.

Prolonged Use Comes with Health RisksWhile the study offers important insights into the relationship between inflammation and dementia, the authors highlighted the potential side effects and risks associated with prolonged NSAID use, particularly among older adults.

These effects include gastrointestinal bleeding, stomach ulcers, cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke, kidney damage, and increased blood pressure due to their impact on the body’s natural protective mechanisms—which are often already compromised with age.

“There is a need for more studies to further consolidate this evidence and possibly develop preventive strategies,” Ikram said.

The relationship between NSAID use and the risk of dementia is still uncertain, with previous research suggesting that NSAIDs may have the opposite effect. Some studies show an increased risk of dementia, while others show no effect. Experts suggest that while NSAIDs reduce inflammation, which is linked to dementia, other methods like supplements, diet, and healthy habits might offer similar benefits with fewer side effects.

Alternative ApproachesWhen considering the pros and cons of using NSAIDs to lower dementia risk, several things should be considered, Erika Gray, a pharmacist, and chief medical officer of ToolBox Genomics, told The Epoch Times. These include “family history of dementia, personal history of GI [gastrointestinal] bleeds and all major bleeds, kidney function, other conditions the patient has, and lab values,” she said.

The key takeaway from this study, according to Gray, is that chronic inflammation appears to be associated with developing dementia. She pointed out that while NSAIDs do decrease inflammation, there are other ways to reduce systemic inflammation.

Gray recommended inflammation-reducing supplements, including curcumin and systemic enzymes. “Nattokinase, serrapeptase, and protease are the three big ones,” she said, along with eating anti-inflammatory foods like garlic and ginger.

Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels and lowering average blood sugar in those with diabetes and prediabetes also helps, she added.

“These are strategies that could be used to lower overall inflammation, which may decrease the risk of dementia without the possible side effects of NSAIDs.”