Effects of Rofecoxib or Naproxen vs Placebo on Alzheimer Disease Progression

Context Laboratory evidence that inflammatory mechanisms contribute to neuro- nal injury in Alzheimer disease (AD), along with epidemiological evidence, suggests that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may favorably influence the course of the disease. Objective To determine whether treatment with a selective cyclooxygenase (COX) -2 inhibitor (rofecoxib) or a traditional nonselective NSAID (naproxen) slows cognitive de- cline in patients with mild-to-moderate AD.