BACKGROUND

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been suggested to retard cognitive decrements in patients with Alzheimer's disease. We postulated that NSAIDs also may protect acute disruption of memory.

METHODS

We studied the effect of indomethacin (4 mg/kg/day) administered daily for 19 days on retrograde amnesia induced by two once-daily electroconvulsive shocks in rats.

RESULTS

Indomethacin produced statistically significant prolongation of recall latency in a passive avoidance task using a step-down apparatus.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that NSAIDs may prevent memory disruption through other mechanisms apart from attenuating chronic inflammation. In patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy, as in those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, antiinflammatory drugs may hold promise in the attenuation of cognitive impairments.