Monash University study links low-dose aspirin to lower dementia risk in specific genetic groups

Researchers at Monash University have identified that low-dose aspirin may be associated with a 70% reduction in the relative risk of dementia among older adults with a specific genetic profile. The study, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, analyzed genetic data from 13,541 participants in the ASPREE (Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) clinical trial.

The potential benefit was observed specifically in the top 20% of participants with high polygenic scores related to platelet counts. In this subgroup, only 1% of those taking aspirin developed dementia, compared to 3.3% in the placebo group. However, this same group experienced a significant safety concern: the risk of major bleeding was more than double that of the placebo group, with 4.4% of aspirin users experiencing major bleeding compared to 2.1% of those on placebo.

Experts and authors emphasize that these findings do not currently support a recommendation for using aspirin to prevent dementia. The researchers noted that the genetic test used is not available to patients and called for further clinical trials and studies across diverse ethnic populations to validate the results.