Research reveals users are less likely to develop the degenerative disease
Ibuprofen users are less likely to suffer from Alzheimer's disease, according to new research.
Individuals who had used ibuprofen for more than five years were more than 40% less likely to develop dementia with longer usage associated with lower risk.
A study by researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine examined 49,349 over 55 year olds with Alzheimer's disease and 196,850 without dementia.
When the researchers investigated use of other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs they found people who used certain types for over five years were 25% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than non-users.
Professor Clive Ballard, director of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said the drug had a positive impact on memory and function for people with mild Alzheimer's disease. "A drug that slows the effects of this devastating disease would provide hope to thousands who are diagnosed each year. Two more clinical trials of this drug are currently underway and we eagerly look forward to the results of these studies next year."
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting around 417,000 people in the UK and 24 million worldwide.
It is a degenerative and terminal disease for which there is currently no known cure. In its most common form, it occurs in people over 65 although a less prevalent early-onset form also exists.
Early stages of the disease are often recognised through symptoms such as short-term memory loss thought by the sufferer to be caused by ageing or stress. Later symptoms include confusion, anger, mood swings, language breakdown, long-term memory loss and the general withdrawal of the sufferer as their senses decline.
