CONTEXT: Retrospective analysis of methotrexate shows a reduction in dementia risk. Always great when existing data is re-examined to show useful trends like this.
IMPACT: Medium
READ TIME: 2 mins
Quality Level Mean [1 – 10]: 8
1. “An anti-inflammatory drug could lessen the risk of dementia in those with rheumatoid arthritis, according to new research.”
2. “The prescription drug methotrexate – not to be mistaken with a similar drug, called sulfasalazine – reduced dementia cases by 29 per cent in people with the condition, the report stated.”
3. “Dr Danielle Newby, from University of Oxford, said: “Our research exploring the use of the anti-inflammatory drug, methotrexate, in real-world data sets finds 29 per cent fewer dementia cases in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.”
4. “Dr Susan Kohlhaas, director of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Methotrexate is a prescription drug and should only be used when prescribed by a doctor or qualified healthcare already a licensed anti-inflammatory prescribed to people with arthritis, and information already exists about its safety, understanding its potential benefit for brain health could help reduce dementia risk for many people.”
5. ““While we’re on the brink of the first disease-modifying treatments for diseases like Alzheimer’s, with nearly one million people living with dementia, we owe it to them to explore all possible approaches to prevent the condition in the first place.”