Genetic test could unlock aspirin's dementia protection, Monash research finds
Low-dose aspirin may cut dementia risk by 70% in people with certain genes. Yet bleeding risk also rises.
A Monash University study looked at more than 13,500 people from the well-known ASPREE trial. Researchers studied whether genetic makeup affects aspirin's impact on dementia.
In people with high platelet-related genetic scores, just 1 per cent taking aspirin developed dementia. By comparison, 3.3 per cent on placebo developed it.
This shows about a 70 per cent lower relative risk of dementia. However, that same genetic group saw major bleeding rise.
Among them, 4.4 per cent on aspirin had major bleeding versus 2.1 per cent on placebo. Lead researcher Dr. Peter Fransquet said genetic testing could one day identify who benefits most from aspirin for dementia prevention.
Previous trials found aspirin did not prevent dementia when tested across all patients without looking at genes.
- More than 13,500
- Trial participants
- 70 per cent lower relative risk
- Dementia reduction
- 1 per cent
- Aspirin dementia rate
- 3.3 per cent
- Placebo dementia rate
Why it mattersGenetic screening could allow custom dementia prevention instead of one-size-fits-all medicine, though bleeding risk must be carefully weighed.
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