Low-dose aspirin linked to 70% lower dementia risk, but there's a catch
A common, inexpensive medication could hold an unexpected clue to preventing dementia.
A common, inexpensive medication could hold an unexpected clue to preventing dementia.
The short version
- Researchers found that older adults with a specific genetic profile had a 70% lower relative risk of dementia when taking low-dose aspirin, even though previous studies found no overall protective effect.
- The discovery suggests that genetics could help explain why some people benefit while others do not.
- A new analysis from Monash University suggests that low-dose aspirin may be linked to a dramatically lower risk of dementia in older adults with certain genetic characteristics.
What happened
The findings, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association , were based on genetic data from more than 13,500 participants in the landmark ASPREE Trial (Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly). Scientists examined whether differences in participants' genes could help explain why aspirin might affect dementia risk differently from one person to another.
Why it matters
The most striking results involved genes associated with platelet count.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at ScienceDaily — Top Science via the links above and below.