Association of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin with cognitive performance in middle-aged adults.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the cross-sectional association of regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or aspirin with cognitive function in 13,153 individuals, aged 48-67 years, participating in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.


METHODS
Regular use of NSAIDs or aspirin was analyzed in relation to the results of three cognitive tests, the Delayed Word Recall Test, the WAIS-R Digit Symbol Subtest, and the Word Fluency Test.


RESULTS
After adjustment for covariates previously found to be associated with cognition in this sample, we found a weak negative association between current use of aspirin and poor Word Recall [OR = 0.84 (95% confidence interval: 0.68-1.04)] and poor Word Fluency [OR = 0.85 (0.70-1.03)]. We found no association between current use of aspirin and Digit Symbol score, nor did we find current NSAID use to be significantly associated with any of the cognitive tests.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests a modest association, at best, between NSAIDs or aspirin and better cognitive function.
Peacock
J M
JM
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55454-1015, USA.
Folsom
A R
AR
Knopman
D S
DS
Mosley
T H
TH
Goff
D C
DC
Szklo
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014888:Wechsler Scales
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001241:Aspirin