Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor use and reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease

This research article explores the potential link between nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), medications used for HIV and hepatitis B, and a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The authors hypothesize that NRTIs' ability to inhibit inflammasome activation, a process implicated in AD, contributes to this protective effect. Through a retrospective analysis of two extensive health insurance databases—the United States Veterans Health Administration and MarketScan—the study found a significantly lower incidence of AD in individuals exposed to NRTIs. The findings suggest a rationale for further clinical trials to investigate inflammasome inhibitors, like NRTIs or their less toxic derivatives, as potential treatments for AD.