Aspirin Does Not Affect Cognitive Function in People at Moderate CV Risk

Cardiovascular disease (including cerebrovascular disease) is associated with declining cognitive function in old age (JW Jul 12 1994). Regular aspirin use lowers risk for adverse cardiovascular events in patients with peripheral vascular disease (JW Feb 22 2002). Aspirin might similarly prevent atheroma- or thrombosis-related strokes and, thereby, preserve cognitive function. However, aspirin might also promote cognitive decline if it raises risk for brain hemorrhage. Previous observational data suggest either no association between regular aspirin use and cognitive decline or, at best, a modest protective benefit. To investigate this association, investigators randomized 3350 men and women (age range, 50–75) in Scotland to daily low-dose …