Are anti-inflammatories the secret to dementia prevention?

The latest statistics on dementia are absolutely staggering.

According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, someone develops dementia every three seconds.

Based on their projections, while there are currently more than 55 million people worldwide living with dementia, that number is expected to reach 78 million by 2030, and it will top 139 million in 2050.

Sadly, it often feels like the pharmaceutical companies are looking in the wrong places for cures. You might remember the drug lecanemab, which the FDA fast-tracked for treating early Alzheimer’s, was linked to stroke. A similar drug, aducanumab, was not without concern and was eventually discontinued.

Luckily, though, there’s news on the horizon that focuses on a known contributor to dementia…

Research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society provides evidence that we might have everything we need to ward off the disease at our fingertips…

The Alzheimer’s-inflammation connection

Several studies have found a link between Alzheimer’s dementia and high levels of inflammation in the body.

Research has even shown that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications may help protect against dementia due to their anti-inflammatory effects.

However, scientists have not been able to pinpoint whether the key to dementia prevention lies in an all-out push to reduce inflammation in the short term by taking high doses of anti-inflammatories or if focusing on long-term inflammation reduction is necessary.

So researchers at the Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, set out to close that knowledge gap by following 11,745 adults for an average of 14.5 years.

Their conclusion?

“Our study provides evidence on possible preventive effects of anti-inflammatory medication against the dementia process,” said corresponding author M. Arfan Ikram, MSc, MD, PhD.

In fact, they found that long-term NSAID use was associated with a 12% reduced risk of developing dementia. On the other hand, short- and intermediate-term use offered no benefits.

Results also showed that the cumulative dose of NSAIDs was not associated with decreased dementia risk. In other words, high doses didn’t matter. What was important was sticking to a regimen of inflammation reduction.

A ‘cure’ with significant risks

Before you call your doctor to ask for an NSAID prescription — or head out to the pharmacy to pick up an over-the-counter option, you should know one more thing.

These medications are linked to GI bleeds, acute kidney injuries and bronchospasm — a condition known as “aspirin-induced asthma” that is potentially fatal.

Studies have also found that NSAIDs increased heart attack risk by an astonishing 20 to 50 percent. And they can even drain your life force by attacking your mitochondria.

I’m not sure those risks are worth a 12% reduction in dementia risk when an anti-inflammatory diet can slash dementia risk by as much as 31% — according to research by the Aging Research Center at Karolinska Institute involving 9,000 participants followed for 14 years.

An anti-inflammatory diet focuses on whole, unprocessed foods, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes. It emphasises healthy fats, like olive oil and omega-3s, found in fatty fish. It makes good use of naturally anti-inflammatory spices, including turmeric, ginger and cinnamon, and limits inflammatory foods like red meat, unhealthy fats and sugary drinks.

In addition, there are plenty of ways to lower inflammation without turning to potentially dangerous medications, including:

• Fasting – Scientists have found that restricting calories significantly raises the level of a lipid known as arachidonic acid. This molecule reduces the activity of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which in turn reduces inflammation.
• Stress reduction – By controlling stress, you reduce the production of a molecule called nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) in your body to block the formation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

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Sources:

Can long-term use of anti-inflammatory medications prevent dementia? – EurekAlert

Dementia Statistics – Alzheimer’s Disease International

Fasting’s inflammation-fighting trigger may work like aspirin – Easy Health Options

4 big ways NSAID pain relievers can hurt your body – Easy Health Options

Omega-3 Fatty Acids And Inflammation – You Are What You Eat! – NIH