Heavy use of NSAIDs 'could delay' Alzheimer's disease.

NSAIDs may delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease, rather than reducing the risk of it developing, a US study suggests.

Researchers followed 2,736 men and women aged over 65 for 12 years, recording their use of NSAIDs and whether or not they developed dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

A total of 458 participants were heavy users of NSAIDs, defined as those taking more than 500 standard daily doses over two years.

Such heavy use of NSAIDs was associated with a 66 per cent increased risk of developing dementia and a 57 per cent increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, the researchers found.

Previous studies have suggested that the incidence of …