Indomethacin For Alzheimer's Disease

    Indomethacin is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug used to treat pain. Indomethacin use has been shown to reduce the risk of alzheimer's disease. Indomethacin has been used clinically for alzheimer patients. One study gave patients 100 to 150 milligrams of indomethacin daily for six months. Patients receiving indomethacin increased their cognitive abilities 1.3 percent on a battery of tests; whereas, those patients not receiving indomethacin declined 8.4 percent [101].

    How does the drug work? Studies have shown the indomethacin does not alter the toxic effects of amyloid beta protein [102-103]. However,indomethacin does reduce the activation of brain microglia [104]. Microglia are the immune regulators in the brain, much like white blood cells are immune regulators in the bloodstream. In alzheimer patients, microglia become hyper-activated, and may aggravate brain injury by secreting harmful chemicals,such as nitric oxide.
    Indomethacin should be used cautiously in alzheimer patients. One study reports that indomethacin can precipitate psychotic like episodes -including agitation, confusion,and aggression- in sensitive alzheimer patients [105].

---