Study: Aleve and Vioxx Don't Slow Alzheimer's Progression

The common pain relievers Aleve and Vioxx do not slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study reported in the June 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Previous studies had raised hopes that these two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) could be a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease. But neither drug held up in this new study, the first to test whether low-dose Aleve (napoxen) and Vioxx (rofecoxib) could slow cognitive decline in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.

The 12-month study involved 351 patients who either took Aleve, Vioxx or a placebo. Neither Aleve nor Vioxx had a beneficial effect on participant scores on a standard Alzheimer's test measuring memory, attention, reasoning, language, orientation and complex motor function. Patients taking Vioxx actually had a more rapid cognitive decline than the Aleve and placebo groups.

"These treatments cannot be recommended for use in clinical settings and should be suspended by any clinician who currently thinks NSAIDs stem the progression of Alzheimer's disease," said lead researcher Dr. Paul Aisen, Georgetown University Medical Center professor of neurology.

"While the National Institute on Aging continues to explore the potential for NSAIDs to be effective preventive tools for Alzheimer's disease, the fact remains that these results are not encouraging for those who are in need of an effective, immediate intervention," Aisen added.

Other sources: Georgetown University Medical Center