Aspirin and cognitive function
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Low-dose aspirin use does not protect older women from cognitive decline, according to a randomized, double-blind study published on the British Medical Journal's Web site April 27. Conducted by Jae Hee Kang, et al., Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, the nearly 10-year study evaluated 6,377 women aged 65 and older who were taking part in the Women's Health study. Subjects were divided into two treatment groups: low-dose aspirin and placebo. Cognitive performance measured at 5.6 years and 9.6 years of treatment were similar among the groups. Although results suggest category fluency was better in the aspirin group, authors stress the finding should be interpreted "with caution," concluding "other methods for preserving cognitive function in older people need to be investigated." A study in the April 18 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute and a recent Consumers Union report finds aspirin use was associated with decreased risks of certain cancers and heart attack, respectively (1"The Tan Sheet" April 23, 2007, p. 8 and 2"The Tan Sheet" April 23, 2007, p. 10)...
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Low-dose aspirin use does not protect older women from cognitive decline, according to a randomized, double-blind study published on the British Medical Journal's Web site April 27. Conducted by Jae Hee Kang, et al., Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, the nearly 10-year study evaluated 6,377 women aged 65 and older who were taking part in the Women's Health study. Subjects were divided into two treatment groups: low-dose aspirin and placebo. Cognitive performance measured at 5.6 years and 9.6 years of treatment were similar among the groups. Although results suggest category fluency was better in the aspirin group, authors stress the finding should be interpreted "with caution," concluding "other methods for preserving cognitive function in older people need to be investigated." A study in the April 18 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute and a recent Consumers Union report finds aspirin use was associated with decreased risks of certain cancers and heart attack, respectively (1 p. 8 and 2 (Also see "Aspirin Tops Three Rx Drugs In Preventing Heart Attack – Consumers Union" - Pink Sheet, 23 Apr, 2007.) p. 10).... |