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Ibuprofen for Alzheimer's disease.
1Postgraduate Medical School, University of Brighton, Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Falmer, Brighton, UK. n.t.tabet@brighton.ac.uk
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|June 14, 2003
Summary
No completed trials show ibuprofen effectively treats Alzheimer's disease (AD). Further research is needed to balance potential benefits against risks like gastrointestinal bleeding from this NSAID.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are investigated for inflammatory conditions.
- Ibuprofen may counteract inflammation implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of ibuprofen in treating individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of placebo-controlled randomized trials for ibuprofen in Alzheimer's disease.
- Searched major databases and ongoing trials registers up to December 2002.
- Data collection focused on cognitive, behavioral, physical, and psychological aspects of AD.
Main Results:
- No completed randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials on ibuprofen for Alzheimer's disease were identified.
- An unfinished trial on age-associated memory impairment and ongoing studies with other NSAIDs were noted.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence from rigorous trials is insufficient to confirm ibuprofen's efficacy for Alzheimer's disease.
- Ibuprofen, like other NSAIDs, carries significant side-effect risks, necessitating a benefit-risk assessment before recommendation.