Daily Ibuprofen May Help Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

A study published the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease suggests a daily regimen of ibuprofen can prevent the onset of Alzheimer's if taken early enough, reports ScienceDaily . Last year, a research team led by Aurin Biotech CEO Dr. Patrick McGeer announced the development of a simple saliva test that can diagnose Alzheimer's and predict its future onset by measuring the concentration of the peptide amyloid beta protein 42 (Abeta 42). If the rate of Abeta 42 production is two to three times higher than normal, people exhibiting that rate are destined to develop Alzheimer's. The researchers showed that Abeta 42 is produced in all organs and is secreted in saliva from the submandibular gland. Consequently, an individual's likelihood to develop Alzheimer's can be determined with no more than a teaspoon of saliva. This offers them an early preventive treatment opportunity to start taking non-prescription non-steroidal drugs such as ibuprofen. "What we've learned through our research is that people who are at risk of developing Alzheimer's exhibit the same elevated Abeta 42 levels as people who already have it; moreover, they exhibit those elevated levels throughout their lifetime so, theoretically, they could get tested anytime," McGeer says. "Knowing that the prevalence of clinical Alzheimer's disease commences at age 65, we recommend that people get tested 10 years before, at age 55, when the onset of Alzheimer's would typically begin. If they exhibit elevated Abeta 42 levels then, that is the time to begin taking daily ibuprofen to ward off the disease."