Low-Dose Aspirin and Dementia in Older Women

Several studies have examined the effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the development of dementia (JAMA 2003; 289:2819 and BMJ 2003; 327:128). Now, researchers have conducted a prospective, observational study to examine whether low-dose aspirin could prevent cognitive decline. The Swedish population-based cohort included 681 women aged 70 to 92 at baseline. Comprehensive examinations at baseline and 5 years later included cognitive testing with the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), category fluency, naming ability, and word memory tests. Dementia was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third edition, revised, criteria.

Of the 681 women, 129 used low-dose aspirin at baseline (…