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Monash University > News and Events > Monash Memo
Largest ever clinical trial to test benefits of aspirin
7 October 2009
Researchers at Monash and the Berman Center for Outcomes and Clinical Research will lead an international clinical trial to test whether taking aspirin contributes to good health in the elderly.
The trial, ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE), has been awarded US$50 million from the US National Institute on Aging, adding to funding of $3.5 million from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.
The study - the largest prevention trial to be undertaken in Australia - will recruit 12,500 healthy men and women aged 70 years and over in Australia and 6500 in the US.
Over five years, half will take daily low-dose aspirin and half a placebo tablet to determine if daily consumption helps them remain physically active and improves cognitive and cardiovascular function.
Principal investigator Monash University's Professor John McNeil said the health and wellbeing of older Australians was at the centre of the study.
"We want to look at the potential of aspirin to improve the health of older Australians. This age group has not previously been studied in sufficient numbers to inform health guidelines," Professor McNeil said.
"Doctors know that aspirin should help to prevent heart attacks and some forms of stroke and research indicates that aspirin may also prevent mental decline and some forms of cancer.
"However aspirin is also known to have side effects that may offset its benefits."
Professor McNeil said the study followed international debate about the role of aspirin for prevention of disease in healthy individuals.
"Its outcome will determine whether health practitioners around the world should routinely recommend low-dose aspirin for older patients," he said.
Research team member Professor Mark Nelson from the University of Tasmania said the involvement of Australian GPs was crucial to the success of the study.
"We will work closely with GPs, initially across Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT and later in other states, to invite suitable volunteers to participate in the study," he said.
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