Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use and Essential Tremor

Abstract

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been shown to be inversely related to Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, both of which may share common mechanisms with essential tremor (ET). Use of these medications has not been studied in ET cases vs. controls. Objective: To investigate the relationships between NSAID (esp. ibuprofen) and aspirin use and ET. Methods: Subjects were enrolled in a case-control study of the environmental epidemiology of ET at the Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC; 2009-2014). We compared 92 ET cases to 107 controls (∼1:1 matching) in terms of self-reported NSAID (esp. ibuprofen) and aspirin use. Results: The proportion of NSAID or aspirin users (current or past) was similar in ET cases and controls (for current user, p = 0.66; for past user, p = 0.90). Among users, however, the total dosage of ibuprofen (frequency in past year × number of tablets taken at a time × typical average strength of tablets) was higher in controls than ET cases (p = 0.04). ET cases and controls did not differ with respect to aspirin use in the past year. Conclusion: The proportion of NSAID or aspirin users did not differ in ET cases or controls; yet interestingly, ibuprofen use was less in ET cases than in controls. The latter raises the possibility that ibuprofen use could have a potential protective role in ET.