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.