Aspirin and the onset of Alzheimer's disease and dementia

Published 27 April 2007

Alzheimer’s Society comment on study by Jae Hee Kang and colleagues at Brigham and Women's Hospital published by the British Medical Journal:

'The regular use of painkillers has previously been linked to a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease. This intriguing link came from population studies, which revealed a lower incidence of dementia in people with arthritis taking aspirin.
This latest study investigated whether aspirin could prevent the onset of dementia in older women and found it made no difference compared with a placebo. It would have been interesting to include men in the study, who we know are at higher risk of developing vascular dementia. Many people exhibiting risk factors for vascular disease are recommended to take low doses of aspirin.
We would not recommend taking aspirin as an effective way of reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The best evidence for reducing risk remains a healthy lifestyle, with regular exercise and a balanced diet. A healthy heart leads to a health mind.'