Can Low-Dose Aspirin Decrease Dementia Risk by 70 Percent?
- A Monash University study found that low-dose aspirin was linked to a 70 percent lower dementia risk in older adults with certain genetic traits.
- Among people with the highest genetic scores linked to platelet count, dementia occurred in 1 percent of aspirin users and 3.3 percent of placebo users.
- More research is needed to confirm these findings. Consult your doctor before taking aspirin to help prevent dementia.
A new study suggests that low-dose aspirin may lower the risk of dementia in some adults. Researchers found that people with a certain genetic profile who took aspirin had a 70 percent lower risk of developing dementia than those who took a placebo.
The study, led by researchers at Monash University, looked at data from more than 13,500 participants. The team found that genes linked to platelet count, the small parts of the blood that help it clot, explain who could benefit from aspirin. Aspirin helps to keep platelets from sticking together and forming those clots. Experts believe this is important because problems with blood flow can play a role in brain health.
However, there was also a risk. People in this group who took aspirin were at higher risk of major bleeding than those who took a placebo.
What Does This Mean for Dementia Prevention?
More research can help scientists learn about the potential benefits aspirin provides for dementia prevention. In the meantime, experts warn that people shouldn’t start taking aspirin to prevent dementia without talking to their doctor first.