Worm ‘study’ gives some dangerous advice about painkiller

This new “study,” if you can even call it that, could be filed under the heading of “researchers” with too much time on their hands.

Now try not to laugh too loud — especially if you’re at work.

Fruit flies and worms given daily doses of ibuprofen were reported to be healthier, happier and live longer than their untreated relatives!

If you’re wondering how we can tell if a worm or fly is happy, that’s a really good question.

Dr. Brian Kennedy, who is also CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, where this study came from, is sure he knows a healthy, happy worm when he sees one.

He said that “healthy worms tend to thrash a lot,” and that his ibuprofen-treated worms were thrashing all over the place. He didn’t comment on how he knew the flies were happy. (Maybe they were laughing?)

Dr. Kennedy said that his study revealed “a lot to be excited about.” And that ibuprofin is just one of many “anti-aging medicines” to be discovered.

Okay, you can stop laughing now. Because here’s where Dr. Kennedy’s worm research turns dangerous.

Headline after headline reported it as proving that ibuprofen “could add years to your life.” A dozen years to be exact.

But before you run out to the CVS to stock up on the drug, there are a few other things you should know about it.

When it first hit the market, ibuprofen was a prescription drug only. Then in the 1980s it made that Rx to OTC switch. And it took all its risky prescription side effects right along with it to the other side of the counter.

Things like liver and kidney damage and some dangerous GI problems.

And long-term use can do something else. Recent research into taking ibuprofen regularly — like the worms did — found that this drug is just as dangerous to your heart as Vioxx.

Vioxx was taken off the market ten years ago because of that big heart attack risk. Ibuprofen, on the other hand, can be found at any 7-11.

But maybe the real reason Dr. Kennedy’s worms didn’t all die from heart attacks is because unlike people, the earth worm has not one, but five hearts!

Sources:

“Ibuprofen could add years to your life, study finds” Ann Brenoff, December 19, 2014, The Huffington Post, huffingtonpost.com