Collapsing Pyramid

BALTIMORE: Using pain medication such as Advil and Motrin that contain ibuprofen and similar drugs could cut the risk of Alzheimer's by as much as 60 percent, according to a Johns Hopkins study. Researchers analyzed medical records of 1,686 people from 1980 to 1995, looking at what medicines they took and for how long, and concluded using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen decreased the chances of getting Alzheimer's by 30 to 60 percent. Scientists caution that this is not a reason for people to start downing massive amounts of Motrin: "Using ibuprofen seems to offer promise as a way to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's, but we will need clinical trials to prove that it confers protection and, ultimately, to make public health recommendations to re duce risk," said Johns Hopkins' Walter Stewart. Similar findings had been presented a year ago at the annual conference of the American Academy of Neurology in San Francisco. Even so, stocks of several drug companies rose on the news. American Hom e Products, maker of Advil, gained $1 to 67.75.