The 3p painkiller found in most shops that could lower dementia risk
A drugs costing just pennies could hold the key to shielding you from the dangers of a certain health condition. According to research, anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen might help stave off dementia and slow down its development.
Antibiotics, antiviral medications, and vaccines were also found to have the potential to protect against this disease, in a new study. Researchers from the universities of Cambridge and Exeter scanned the records of around 130 million people and managed to identify various existing medications that may possibly be used to help treat dementia.
Currently, no cure is available in the UK for almost one million people afflicted by this condition, although studies have shown the medications lecanemab and donanemab may slow the build-up of certain proteins in the brain linked to Alzheimer's disease. However, these treatments have been rejected for prescription by the NHS as benefits aren't high enough.
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Dr Ben Underwood, University of Cambridge's department of psychiatry expert, said: "We urgently need new treatments to slow the progress of dementia, if not to prevent it. If we can find drugs that are already licensed for other conditions, then we can get them into trials and -- crucially -- may be able to make them available to patients much, much faster than we could do for an entirely new drug.
"The fact they are already available is likely to reduce cost and therefore make them more likely to be approved for use in the NHS." In their study published in Alzheimer's and Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, researchers conducted a systematic review of existing scientific literature to identify prescription drugs that may influence dementia risk.
Their examination covered 14 studies utilising extensive clinical datasets and medical records, including data on over 130 million individuals and one million cases of dementia. They found several classes of drugs associated with altered dementia risk.
One unexpected finding was the link between antibiotics, antivirals, vaccines, and a decreased risk of dementia, which reinforces the hypothesis that certain dementias could be triggered by viral or bacterial infections. This discovery aligns with the burgeoning interest in vaccines like the BCG vaccine for tuberculosis and their potential impact on reducing dementia risk.
Additionally, the study highlighted that anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, were correlated with a lower risk of dementia, aligning with the prevailing belief that inflammation plays a significant role in the development of various diseases, including dementia.
Dr Ilianna Lourida from the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula (PenARC), University of Exeter, has issued words of caution, stating: "Because a particular drug is associated with an altered risk of dementia, it doesn't necessarily mean that it causes or indeed helps in dementia. We know that diabetes increases your risk of dementia, for example, so anyone on medication to manage their glucose levels would naturally also be at a higher risk of dementia -- but that doesn't mean the drug increases your risk."
She reminded the public: "It's important to remember that all drugs have benefits and risks. You should never change your medicine without discussing this first with your doctor, and you should speak to them if you have any concerns."
Additionally, Dr Underwood emphasised the significance of large health data by adding: "Pooling these massive health data sets provides one source of evidence which we can use to help us focus on which drugs we should try first. We're hopeful this will mean we can find some much-needed new treatments for dementia and speed up the process of getting them to patients."
For those looking to reduce their risk of dementia, the NHS recommends several lifestyle adjustments, including eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, partaking in regular exercise, limiting alcohol intake, quitting smoking, keeping blood pressure controlled, and staying socially active.
As of the date of this report, consumers can purchase a 16 pack of ibuprofen from Boots at the cost of 55p, working out to just over 3p per pill.