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Ibuprofen reduces cognitive
decline in older women
Women who are long-term users of
NSAIDs - primarily ibuprofen - are less
likely to have low cognitive function and
may be at reduced risk of substantial
cognitive decline, say US investigators1.
The study aimed to determine the effects
of aspirin and other NSAIDs on cognitive
function in 13,255 women aged 70 - 81
participating in the Nurses’ Health Study,
an ongoing cohort study in the United
States. Aspirin was currently used by 59
percent of participants and formerly used
by 34 percent; the corresponding figures
for NSAIDs were 24 and 29 percent. Most
women said the NSAID they used was
ibuprofen.
Psychometric tests were carried out at
baseline then repeated two years later; in
particular cognitive function was measured
by a version of the Mini Mental State
Exam adapted for telephone use.
After
adjustment for confounding factors such
as age, morbidity and education, there
was a trend for better performance in tests
of short-term memory and cognitive
function with long-term use of aspirin or
NSAIDs. Compared with women who had
never used aspirin, current use of aspirin
lasting 15 or more years was associated
with reduced odds of low cognitive
function (relative risk 0.79; CI95% 0.59,
0.96); for current NSAID use lasting at
least 8 years, the relative risk was 0.75
(CI95% 0.62, 1.02). The relative risk for
substantial global decline in cognitive
function (defined as the worst 10 percent
of results) was 0.77 (CI95% 0.57, 1.05) for
ibuprofen and 0.93 (CI95% 0.68, 1.26) for
aspirin.
The authors say that NSAIDs did not
greatly affect cognitive function among
older women but long-term use was
associated with modestly better scores in
psychometric tests and possibly a reduced
risk of substantial cognitive decline.
Longer follow-up is needed but they
suggest that, if the putative protective
effect of NSAIDs against dementia is real,
the early phase of the disease is not the
most critical for intervention.
1. Hee Kang J, Grodstein F. Regular use of
NSAIDs and cognitive function in aging
women.
Neurology. 2003 May 27;60(10):1591-7.
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