Aspirin ‘may reduce Alzheimer’s risk’

TAKING aspirin regularly may reduce the chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study.

It is the latest health benefit to be associated with the wonder drug. Recent studies have suggested aspirin can help fight cancer, heart disease, blood pressure and arthritis.

The study, published in this month’s Neurology magazine, found that patients who regularly took aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were half as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as compared to those who did not take the drugs regularly. “Our results suggest that long-term NSAID use may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, provided the use occurs well before the onset of dementia,” said Dr Breitner, one of the authors of the study.

But the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland has reacted cautiously to the news. “We think clinical trials would be required to support the results. We don’t want people with dementia to go on an aspirin binge,” said society spokesman Ian McKeever.

An estimated 33,000 Irish people suffer from dementia, with Alzheimer’s being the most common cause. It affects 6% of people over 65 and 20% of people over 80.

The Alzheimer’s Research Trust in Britain also welcomed the study but urged people to seek medical advice before taking aspirin. Long-term use of aspirin can lead to side effects such as stomach bleeding, ulcers and kidney problems.

The study followed the medical history of 5,000 people aged over 65 for three years. Of the 3,227 patients still alive at the end of that period, 104 had Alzheimer’s. Those who took aspirin or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen regularly had a better chance of avoiding Alzheimer’s.