RISK OF ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE AND DURATION OF NSAID USE

In a longitudinal study oi 1,686 participants in the Baltimore Longitu dinal Study of Aging, we examined whether the risk of Alzheimer's dise ase (AD) was reduced among reported users oi aspirin or other nonstero idal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), In addition, we examined use of acetaminophen, a pain-relief medication with little or no anti-inflam matory activity, to assess the specificity of the association between AD risk and self-reported medications, Information on use of medicatio ns was collected during each biennial examination between 1980 and 199 5. The relative risk (RR) for AD decreased with increasing duration of NSAID use. Among those with 2 or more years of reported NSAID use, th e RR was 0.40 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.19-0.843 compared with 0.65 (95% CI: 0.33-1.29) for those with less use, The overall RR for A D among aspirin users was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.46-1.18), and no trend oi. d ecreasing risk of AD was observed Kith increasing duration Of aspirin use, No association was found between AD risk and use of acetaminophen (RR = 1.35; 95% CI: 0.79-2.30), and there was no trend of decreasing risk with increasing duration of use. These findings are consistent wi th evidence from cross-sectional studies indicating protection against AD risk among NSAID users and with evidence suggesting that one stage of the pathophysiology leading to AD is characterized by an inflammat ory process.