More on NSAIDs: Common Pain Relievers Naproxen and Celecoxib Do Not Prevent Alzheimer's

A new study suggests that drug store pain medication naproxen (brand name: Aleve) and prescription-only pain reliever celecoxib (brand name: Celebrex) do not prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The study, which was conducted at six U.S. dementia research clinics and included 2,100 patients, was published today in the online edition of Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Previous observational studies had suggested that continued use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help to prevent against Alzheimer’s disease. The new study did not involve other commonly used NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen.  

"Although our study was conducted to test the hypothesis that celecoxib or naproxen would reduce the incidence of Alzheimer's disease, these results indicate no such effect, at least within the first few years after treatment begins," said study author Constantine Lyketsos, MD, MHS, with Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Bayview Hospital.

The study, which focused on people over age 70 with no signs of dementia but a family history of Alzheimer’s disease, found that neither treatment was associated with a reduction in Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Study participants were randomly slotted into three groups – they received a daily dose of naproxen, celecoxib, or a placebo for up to four years. Most participants, however, received the treatments for less than two years.

Previous NSAIDs studies have suggested a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease among people who take NSAIDs over a long period of time. "One possible explanation for this inconsistency is that our findings relate specifically to celecoxib and naproxen, but not to other commonly used NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen. Or the drugs may not prevent the progression of disease in people who have advanced Alzheimer's pathology without symptoms--the very people most likely to develop symptoms within a year or two," said study author John C. S. Breitner, MD, with VA Puget Sound Health Care.

"While long-term follow-up of our study's participants is essential, for now we suggest celecoxib and naproxen not be taken to primarily prevent Alzheimer's disease," urged Lyketsos.