Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor Exposure and Alzheimer’s Disease Risk
In a recent study published in Pharmaceuticals (Basel), it was found that exposure to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) may be linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study was conducted as a retrospective cohort proof-of-concept and aimed to evaluate the incidence of AD in people with HIV, with or without exposure to NRTIs.
Key Findings:
- The study analyzed de-identified medical claims data of individuals aged 60 years and older in the United States.
- Patients with HIV and NRTI exposure showed the lowest cumulative incidence of new AD cases over a 2.75-year observation period.
- Adjusted hazard ratios indicated a significantly decreased risk for AD in patients with NRTI exposure compared to those without NRTI exposure.
Implications and Future Directions:
The findings suggest that NRTI exposure may have a protective effect against AD, particularly in patients without exposure to protease inhibitors (PIs). This study highlights the potential for future clinical trials to further investigate the role of NRTIs and the development of new agents targeting brain reverse transcriptases as potential therapeutics for AD.
Source: Link to the study
