NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUGS IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

We reviewed the records of 210 patients in the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer 's Disease Research Center to evaluate the role of nonsteroidal anti-i nflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on clinical features and progression of the disease. We compared patients taking NSAIDs or aspirin on a daily bas is (N = 32) to non-NSAID patients (N = 177) on clinical, cognitive, an d psychiatric measures. The NSAID group had a significantly shorter du ration of illness at study entry. Even after controlling for this diff erence, the NSAID group performed better on the Mini-Mental State Exam ination, Boston Naming Test, and the delayed condition of the Benton V isual Retention Test. Furthermore, analysis of longitudinal changes ov er 1 year revealed less decline among NSAID patients than among non-NS AID patients on measures of verbal fluency, spatial recognition, and o rientation. These findings support other recent studies suggesting tha t NSAIDs may serve a protective role in Alzheimer's disease.