Alzheimer's research at SRH University: How ibuprofen affects fat metabolism in the brain

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 55 million people worldwide are affected by dementia, a large proportion of whom suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Patients gradually lose their memory and orientation; familiar people and places become strange. Nerve cells in the brain die, causing thinking, language and ultimately all everyday skills to be increasingly disturbed. So far, there is no cure for the disease.

The protein beta-amyloid, which is deposited as plaques in the brain of Alzheimer's patients, is considered a key factor. But Alzheimer's is multifactorial: In addition to protein deposits, chronic inflammation and changes in the brain's lipid metabolism also play an important role. Against this background, an everyday medication comes into focus: ibuprofen. The painkiller and anti-inflammatory drug has been studied for some time to see whether it can influence the risk of Alzheimer's. Until now, however, it was unclear how ibuprofen affects the biological processes in the brain – especially the complex lipid metabolism processes.

Here, the new in vitro laboratory study now provides important insights: The research group at the German Institute for Dementia Prevention (DIDP) used cultured human nerve cells in the test tube to systematically investigate for the first time the influence ibuprofen has on various lipid classes in the brain that are already known to be relevant in Alzheimer's research.

Positive effects of ibuprofen on lipid metabolism

The results show that ibuprofen increases the concentration of certain lipids that are crucial for brain cell health. For example, the levels of phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin – both central building blocks of the cell membranes of nerve cells – increased. These membrane lipids are typically reduced in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, which is associated with impaired communication between nerve cells and cell damage.

"Our study shows that ibuprofen counteracts the pathological changes here. This could have a positive effect on the synapses – i.e. the contact points between nerve cells – and against certain cell-damaging processes," explains Prof. Dr. habil. Marcus Grimm, head of the study and head of studies at the Cologne campus of SRH University.

Potential Negative Effects on Cellular Health

On the other hand, the researchers also found potentially adverse effects. Ibuprofen increased the amount of triacylglycerides. These neutral fats serve as energy stores and can be deposited in cells in the form of fat droplets. In addition, the drug led to a decrease in the so-called plasmalogenes, protective lipids that protect cells from oxidative stress. In Alzheimer's patients, plasmalogen levels are already significantly reduced – ibuprofen now further intensifies this effect.

"Our results reveal a double-edged effect of ibuprofen here," summarizes Prof. Dr. habil. Marcus Grimm. "On the one hand, certain changes in brain fats caused by ibuprofen could be protective. On the other hand, we are also seeing changes that are more likely to be counterproductive because they could promote processes associated with Alzheimer's."

Guide to prevention and therapy

The findings explain why previous studies sometimes showed inconsistent results. Some studies suggested that anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen could reduce the risk of Alzheimer's, while others found no clear benefit. The mechanisms that have now been discovered provide a possible explanation: Ibuprofen has both beneficial and undesirable effects – the overall picture in a living organism could therefore depend on the fine-tuning of these opposing effects.

In addition, the results open up new therapeutic perspectives. It would be conceivable, for example, to develop new drugs or strategies that use the positive effects of ibuprofen on brain chemistry while avoiding negative effects. The knowledge is also valuable for prevention: It provides clues as to how inflammation and lipid metabolism could be influenced in people at risk in order to prevent Alzheimer's – whether with medication or possibly through targeted nutritional measures.

Background

The study is the result of a close cooperation between SRH University and Saarland University. Through the regular exchange in the fields of nutritional science and neuroresearch, innovative research projects are created that combine the practical approach of SRH with the basic research of Saarland University.

Original publication: Radermacher J. et al. (2025): Influence of Ibuprofen on glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids in context of Alzheimer's Disease. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 185, 117969. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2025.117969.