Common Back-Pain Drug and Dementia Risk: What the Study Actually Found
If you’re referring to a recent headline about a common painkiller being linked to dementia, the important detail is that an association does not prove the medication causes dementia.
Research on NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)—a group that includes medicines such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac—has produced mixed results. A large population study published in 2025 found a small increase in dementia risk among short- and intermediate-term NSAID users, while surprisingly finding lower risk among people classified as long-term users. PubMed Central (PMC)+1
Another large study of people with chronic pain found higher dementia risk associated with aspirin and paracetamol use, but did not find a significant association with ibuprofen. PubMed
More recently, a 2026 preprint involving 47,165 participants reported lower dementia prevalence among users of some NSAIDs, including diclofenac and naproxen. Because this work is a preprint rather than definitive peer-reviewed evidence, it should be interpreted cautiously. PubMed+1
What should you do if you take a painkiller?
Don’t stop a prescribed medication because of a dementia headline. NSAIDs have well-established risks involving the stomach, kidneys, blood pressure, and cardiovascular system, particularly with prolonged use or in older adults.
If you’re regularly taking ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, or another painkiller for back pain, it’s worth asking your doctor or pharmacist whether you still need it and whether the dose and duration are appropriate.
Bottom line: Current evidence does not establish that ordinary use of a common back-pain drug causes dementia. The relationship is complicated, and studies have produced conflicting results.
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