Could a common medicine in your cupboard help reduce your risk of developing dementia?

Often found in our medicine cabinets or kitchen pantries, anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin are the first thing we reach for when we have a headache but now scientists from the Netherlands think these drugs could also help to reduce your risk of developing dementia.

Publishing their findings in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society the researchers explained why they looked at non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as increasing evidence from animal studies suggested there was “a central role of the inflammatory processes” in various diseases that can lead to dementia.

“Investigating the effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication use on dementia risk could provide insight in possible beneficial effects of anti-inflammatory medication in the prevention of dementia,” they wrote.

The research team examined data from the Rotterdam Study and looked at the records of almost 12,000 participants who were on average, 55 years old or older and were dementia free at the start of study.

Using pharmacy dispensing records, the researchers cross checked NSAID use among the participants and separated the participants into four groups.

The first group were those who recorded non-use, next were people who took NSAIDs for less than one month, the third group comprised people who took NSAIDs for one to 24 months and the last group used anti-inflammatory drugs for more than 24 months.

The researchers explained that after following the participants for an average of 14.5 years, they found that those who used the drugs for over two years had an 18 per cent lower risk of dementia than those who didn’t take any NSAIDs

“These findings provide important insight in the relationship between inflammation and dementia risk, and suggest that prolonged rather than intensive exposure to anti-inflammatory medication may hold potential for dementia prevention,” they wrote.

However, the team also found that those who used  NSAIDs for less than two years saw a slight increase in dementia risk while ingesting higher doses of the drugs was not beneficial either.

Instead it was consumption over a longer period that produced the best results.

“Although our results are an indication of the important role of inflammation in the treatment of dementia, they do not justify the recommendation of long-term treatment with NSAIDs for the prevention of dementia, given its potential adverse effects,” they wrote.

While more research is needed, there may be simpler ways to protect your brain and have fun in the process.

Whether it be meeting up for a coffee with friends, attending a class, or joining your local book club staying social may help maintain cognitive health, according to researchers.

The study, conducted by researchers at the Rush University Medical Center, found that regular social activity could help prevent or delay dementia in later life.

“This study is a follow up on previous papers from our group showing that social activity is related to less cognitive decline in older adults,” Bryan James, PhD, associate professor of internal medicine at Rush, said.

It included over 1,000 older adults with a median age of 80 who were part of the Rush Memory and Aging Project. Social activity was measured through a questionnaire while cognitive function was assessed using 21 tests for various types of memory.

Researchers found that frequent social activity led to a 38 per cent reduction in dementia risk and a 21 per cent reduction in mild cognitive impairment risk, among participants, compared to those who were less socially active.

James explained that the study demonstrated that “social activity is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia and mild cognitive impairment, and that the least socially active older adults developed dementia an average of five years before the most socially active.”

While the findings offer some hope in the prevention of dementia, James stressed that further research is required to better understand whether social activity can play a role in delaying or preventing cognitive decline.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.