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Naproxen and celecoxib do not prevent AD in early results from a randomized controlled trial
ADAPT Research Group, Lyketsos CG, Breitner JC, Green RC, Martin BK, Meinert C, Piantadosi S, Sabbagh M.. Neurology, 2007-04-25
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Plain-language summary
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of naproxen and celecoxib for the primary prevention of Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked clinical trial conducted at six US dementia research clinics. Volunteers aged 70+ years, with cognitive screening scores above designated cut-offs and a family history of AD, were randomly assigned to celecoxib 200 mg BID, naproxen sodium 220 mg BID, or placebo. Enrollment began in early 2001. The main outcome measure was diagnosis of AD after randomization. Results On December 17, 2004, treatments were suspended. Events while on treatment yielded hazard ratios vs placebo of 1.99 (95% CI 0.80 to 4.97; p = 0.14) for celecoxib and 2.35 (0.95 to 5.77; p = 0.06) for naproxen. Imperfect screening measures led to enrollment of 7 individuals with dementia and 46 others with milder cognitive syndromes. Their (prevalent) illness was detected at enrollment and diagnosed within 6 months following randomization. Secondary analyses that excluded the 7 cases of prevalent dementia showed increased hazard ratios for AD with both treatments. Neither treatment produced a notable effect on the incidence of milder cognitive syndromes. Conclusions These results do not support the hypothesis that celecoxib or naproxen prevent Alzheimer dementia, at least within the early years after initiation of treatment. Masked long-term follow-up of these participants will be essential.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: High
This is a trial. These results do not support the hypothesis that celecoxib or naproxen prevent Alzheimer dementia, at least within the early years after starting treatment. During the treatment period, both treatments were associated with increased hazard ratios for Alzheimer disease compared with placebo.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
ADAPT Research Group, Lyketsos, C. G., Breitner, J. C., Green, R. C., Martin, B. K., Meinert, C., et al. (2007). Naproxen and celecoxib do not prevent AD in early results from a randomized controlled trial. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000260269.93245.d2
Vancouver
ADAPT Research Group, Lyketsos CG, Breitner JC, Green RC, Martin BK, Meinert C, et al. Naproxen and celecoxib do not prevent AD in early results from a randomized controlled trial. Neurology. 2007. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000260269.93245.d2. PMID: 17460158.
BibTeX
@article{study2007-17460158,
author = {{ADAPT Research Group} and Lyketsos, C. G. and Breitner, J. C. and Green, R. C. and Martin, B. K. and Meinert, C. and Piantadosi, S. and Sabbagh, M.},
title = {{Naproxen and celecoxib do not prevent AD in early results from a randomized controlled trial}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2007},
doi = {10.1212/01.wnl.0000260269.93245.d2},
pmid = {17460158},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000260269.93245.d2}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Results On December 17, 2004, treatments were suspended.
- Conclusions These results do not support the hypothesis that celecoxib or naproxen prevent Alzheimer dementia, at least within the early years after initiation of treatment.
Why it matters
These results do not support the hypothesis that celecoxib or naproxen prevent Alzheimer dementia, at least within the early years after starting treatment. During the treatment period, both treatments were associated with increased hazard ratios for Alzheimer disease compared with placebo.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 71/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a randomized controlled trial. Scored zero for sample size and effect reported because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 68 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 71 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomized controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2007 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (pubmed indexes it as a clinical or observational study) |
| Randomized / blinded | 2 / 2 | Randomized and blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 354 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 16.9 citations a year over 21 year(s) since 2007 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 20.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 24 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 26 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Johns Hopkins University: institution h-index 2,306 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 17460158) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 68 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 68 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 71 out of 100. |
| Total | 71 / 100 | — |
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