A groundbreaking study has suggested that common anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, could help reduce the risk of dementia.
Researchers delved into the potential of repurposing existing medications, already used for various health conditions, to combat the brain-wasting disease.
They analysed health data from over 130 million individuals and discovered that people who frequently used antibiotics, antiviral medications, and vaccines appeared to have a lower likelihood of developing dementia, Express reported.
Experts from the universities of Cambridge and Exeter believe the findings lend weight to the theory that viral or bacterial infections may play a significant role in triggering common forms of dementia.
The findings, published in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions on Tuesday (January 21), align with growing evidence that inflammation contributes to a wide array of diseases, including dementia.
Several genes associated with a heightened risk of dementia are known to play roles in inflammatory pathways, further supporting this connection.
While the study stopped short of proving a direct link between these drugs and a lowered risk of dementia, it provides a promising avenue for further exploration.
Dr. Ben Underwood, from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, highlighted the importance of such research, noting that analyzing existing treatments offers a valuable starting point for identifying drugs that could potentially be repurposed.
He added: “We urgently need new treatments to slow the progress of dementia, if not to prevent it. If we can find drugs that are already licensed for other conditions, then we can get them into trials and – crucially – may be able to make them available to patients much, much faster than we could do for an entirely new drug.
“The fact they are already available is likely to reduce cost and therefore make them more likely to be approved for use in the NHS.”
The research revealed conflicting findings for certain medications. While some blood pressure drugs and antidepressants were linked to a reduced risk of dementia, others appeared to increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Dr Ilianna Lourida, from the University of Exeter, said: “Because a particular drug is associated with an altered risk of dementia, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it causes or indeed helps in dementia.
“We know that diabetes increases your risk of dementia, for example, so anyone on medication to manage their glucose levels would naturally also be at a higher risk of dementia – but that doesn’t mean the drug increases your risk.
“It’s important to remember that all drugs have benefits and risks. You should never change your medicine without discussing this first with your doctor, and you should speak to them if you have any concerns.”
Commenting on the study, the Alzheimer’s Society’s associate director of research and innovation Dr Richard Oakley said repurposing drugs “could save millions of pounds and decades it takes to develop a new dementia drug from scratch”.
He added: “This research provides some initial groundwork and indicates which drugs have potential for being repurposed for dementia and should be prioritised for further investigation.
“But we can’t draw definite conclusions from this study alone. This was an observational study so more work is needed to understand the careful balance between how the drugs work, their specific doses, interactions with other drugs and the individual’s own health, and how that can impact a person’s risk of developing dementia.
“Clinical trials will help to answer some of these questions in the context of dementia.”
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