27 January 2025

Systematic Review Links Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Antibiotics, Antivirals, and Vaccines to Reduced Dementia Risk

A new systematic review suggests that anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, along with antibiotics, antiviral medications, and vaccines, may be associated with a reduced risk of dementia. Dementia currently affects over 55 million people worldwide, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for up to 70% of cases. The global cost of dementia care exceeds $1 trillion annually.

Conducted by researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, the review was published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions. It analyzed data from 14 studies, encompassing more than 130 million individuals and over 1 million dementia cases.

The researchers used medical records, administrative data, and clinical datasets to investigate potential links between various drugs and dementia risk. They found that antimicrobials, vaccines, and NSAIDs were associated with a lower risk of dementia. In contrast, vitamins, supplements, antipsychotics, and diabetes medications appeared to correlate with an increased risk.

However, evidence regarding antidepressants and certain blood pressure medications was inconsistent. The authors emphasized the limitations of their analysis, including potential false positives and inconsistencies across studies. They concluded that further research is needed to determine whether existing drugs could be effectively repurposed for dementia prevention or treatment.