Elderly people, taking ibuprofen for more than 5 years, have a 40 percent reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, the latest study suggests.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, afflicting 24 million people worldwide. To date, there is still no cure for Alzheimer's with only a few partially effective treatments. Alzheimer's is caused by accumulation of certain proteins in the form of amyloid plaques. This leads to inflammation and atrophy of brain tissue. Previous studies showed that the NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory) drug ibuprofen reduced serum levels of a protein called amyloid beta-1-42 (Aβ 1-42), which is present in these senile plaques. This lead researchers to investigate whether anti-inflammatory drugs might help in delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease.