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Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use and Risk of Incident Alzheimer's Disease in a Defined Community Population

Note: Laurel Beckett's talk will not be recorded.

ABSTRACT

The authors examined the effects of anti-inflammatory drugs on the risk of incident Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a prospective community-based study. Previous studies suggest that inflammatory and immune mechanisms may be involved in AD and that anti-inflammatory drug use may lower disease risk or slow progression. However, few studies used direct examination of medications or examined incident disease. In this study, an unaffected cohort of 2,313 persons aged 65 years and older was identified from the population of East Boston, Massachusetts, and followed for a mean of 4.3 years. Drug use at baseline (1982) was determined by direct examination of all medications used in the preceding 2 weeks. A stratified sample of 642 persons received detailed clinical examination at follow-up; 238 had used one or more anti-inflammatory drugs. Risk of developing AD was similar among users and nonusers of anti-inflammatory drugs overall. In weighted logistic regression controlled for age, sex, length of follow-up, education, and sampling design, the estimated odds ratio of AD for anti-inflammatory drugs users was 0.98 (95% confidence interval 0.48-2.02) compared with nonusers. Disease risk was also similar for users and nonusers of the two major subgroups of these drugs. The risk for users of salicylates compared to nonusers was 0.80 (95% confidence interval 0.36-1.80), and the risk for users of nonsalicylate, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents compared to nonusers was 1.28 (95% confidence interval 0.49-3.36). These results do not support a large protective effect of these drugs on risk of AD.

Supported by National Institute on Aging, AG02107, AG12106, AG10161.