A new study found that the over-the-counter pain reliever Ibuprofen was effective in restoring immune function in old age.

The study was conducted on mice by researchers from the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. For the study, researchers measured inflammatory markers in the lungs of a population of young and old healthy mice.

 Inflammatory markers were elevated in old mice, and isolated macrophages from both old and young healthy mice responded differentially to infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro.

The findings suggested that the altered interactions with M. tuberculosis were linked to inflammation in old age. The researchers then placed a group of old, but healthy, mice on an ibuprofen supplemented diet; this reduced inflammation and restored immune function. The researchers clarified that macrophages from the lungs of old mice had different responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis than macrophages from young mice, but these changes were reversed by ibuprofen.

"Inflammation in old age can have significant consequences on immune function," said Joanne Turner, Ph.D., a researcher involved in the work from the Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity and Center for Microbial Interface Biology at The Ohio State University in Columbus, in a press statement. "With this knowledge, it may be possible to reduce or prevent some diseases in the elderly by decreasing inflammation with diet, exercise and/or drugs."

"This may give new meaning to the phrase 'take two aspirins and call me in the morning,'" said John Wherry, Ph.D., Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology. "The report may not be about aspirin, but it does show that over-the-counter remedies may broader value that usually appreciated, including by affecting immune functions that change with age."

The study was published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology.