Low-dose aspirin linked to 70% lower dementia risk

A common, inexpensive medication could hold an unexpected clue to preventing dementia. 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.

Low-dose aspirin linked to 70% lower dementia risk, but there’s a catch. Researchers found that people with a specific genetic profile who took aspirin had a 70 percent lower relative risk of developing dementia, raising the possibility that genetic testing could eventually help identify people who might benefit from preventive treatments. 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. Aspirin Linked to 70% Lower Dementia Risk in Certain People The most striking results involved genes associated with platelet count. Platelets are small components of the blood that help form clots, and researchers wanted to determine whether genetic variations related to platelet levels could influence aspirin’s potential effects on dementia.