Over the years, observational studies and clinical trials have offered contradictory results about the relationship between long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, and the risk of Alzheimer disease. In the May issue of Neurology, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology, researchers from Boston University reported that long-term ibuprofen use was protective against Alzheimer's.

The investigators identified 49,349 veterans aged 55 years and older who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and compared them with 196,850 veterans of similar age who did not have Alzheimer's. Then, they evaluated the NSAID exposure of the two groups and tested the association between NSAID use and the development of Alzheimer's disease. Compared to veterans who had never used NSAIDs, those who had taken NSAIDs for at least 5 years were less likely to develop Alzheimer disease. In particular, the likelihood of Alzheimer disease was most consistently reduced among long-term users of ibuprofen.

But, ibuprofen use is not without its risks - NSAIDs can cause gastrointestinal problems, including ulcers and bleeding, and kidney damage. There is still a lot to learn about why NSAIDs seem to have a protective effect and what dosage of ibuprofen is both safe and effective.