Low doses of aspirin taken daily by many women to reduce the risk of a heart attack can also reduce the risk of dementia, researchers from Sweden suggest.
Researchers came to such conclusions by observing 681 women aged 70-92 years. 600 of them had a high risk of developing heart disease and stroke. About 130 women at the beginning of the study took low doses of aspirin (75-160 mg), and 94 women took other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, ibuprofen.
Five years later, women passed a standardized test measuring brain function. Women who took low doses of aspirin showed a lower decline in mental abilities. The longer women took aspirin, the more pronounced the differences. However, the study found that the daily use of aspirin was not related to the risk of developing full-blown dementia (dementia).
It has not yet been fully studied how aspirin can inhibit cognitive impairment, but it can increase blood flow to the brain, according to study authors Dr. Silke Kern and his colleagues from the University of Gothenburg.
Dr. Sam Gandhi, chairman of the Alzheimer's Research Center, said: “Aspirin has many properties that benefit the health of our blood vessels. This study shows how important cerebral circulation is in maintaining good cognitive ability.”
However, scientists warn that not everyone can or should take aspirin. Aspirin can cause side effects and should not be taken by people who have an increased risk of ulcers or bleeding.
