Study Results
An Australian study has shown that the effect of low-dose aspirin on dementia risk varies according to genetic traits associated with platelet count. Its use was linked to a reduced risk of the disease in a specific group of older adults, but also to an increased risk of severe bleeding, necessitating that it not be used for preventive purposes without medical consultation.
The Science Daily website reported two days ago that researchers from Australia's Monash University reached these conclusions after analyzing the genetic and health data of 13,541 participants in the ASPREE trial, which examined the benefits and risks of low-dose aspirin in older adults. The study was published in the scientific journal Alzheimer's & Dementia.
Benefits and Risks
According to the results, dementia was recorded in approximately 1% of participants who took aspirin within the group scoring in the top 20% for genetic traits related to platelet count, compared to 3.3% among those who received a placebo. This indicates a relative risk reduction of approximately 70% in this group.
Conversely, the rate of severe bleeding among aspirin users in the same genetic group was 4.4%, compared to 2.1% among those who received the placebo, highlighting the importance of balancing potential benefits against the health risks of the drug.
Medical Warnings
Researchers clarified that the results suggest a possible link between genetic traits associated with platelet count and aspirin's effect on dementia risk, but they do not prove that these traits definitively determine who will benefit from the medication.
The report quoted lead researcher Peter Francis, from the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University, stating that previous studies have not proven the effectiveness of aspirin in preventing dementia among the general older population, while these new findings open the door to studying the possibility that its effect varies according to genetic traits.
Researchers emphasized that the results are exploratory and require verification in independent studies and clinical trials specifically designed for this group, warning against taking aspirin to prevent dementia without consulting a doctor, due to the risks of severe bleeding, especially among older adults.
Dementia is a condition that leads to a decline in mental abilities, such as memory, thinking, concentration, and language, affecting a person's ability to perform daily activities independently. It results from diseases affecting the brain, with Alzheimer's disease being one of its most common causes.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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