May 5, 2008 4:01 pm US/Pacific
Ibuprofen May Lower Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
One common "over the counter" drug may lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. As Dr. Mallika Marshall reports that could help the estimated 10 million "baby boomers" who are expected to suffer from the disease.
A popular pain reliever may protect the brain from Alzheimer's.
Ibuprofen can be found in over the counter drugs like Advil and Motrin. Now a new study found that seniors, who took the drug daily for five years, had a 40 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's. Another pain reliever called Naproxen also showed a benefit, but it wasn't as significant.
LIJ Medical Center's Doctor Angela Scicutela says ibuprofen has been researched before with conflicting results, but this new study is the longest of its kind.
"The longer you were on ibuprofen the odds ratio of developing Alzheimer's disease decreased," explained Dr. Scicutela.
It's believed inflammation is the reason why. In the brain inflammation can cause a plaque substance to build up and possibly lead to Alzheimer's.
Ibuprofen lowers inflammation.
"Certainly decreasing inflammation in the brain can be beneficial," says Dr. Scicutela.
That's good news for Amelia Tirado. She takes ibuprofen daily for her arthritis.
"That sounds pretty good for me because I need it," says Amelia.
However, it's too early to start prescribing the drug for Alzheimer's.
"Certainly we're not at a point now where we would advocate that," says Dr. Scicutela.
Ibuprofen will now be studied further in the hopes of finding better treatments for Alzheimer's, and a better understanding of what causes it.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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