ABOUT 100 senior citizens last week met in Altona as part of Australia’s largest medical trial to test whether age-related diseases can be delayed or prevented by aspirin.
About 300 people in Melbourne’s west are taking part in the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial, with a further 300 healthy older people from the western suburbs sought.
Monash associate professor Robyn Woods said researchers were investigating whether aspirin could extend lifespan or prevent heart attack, stroke, dementia and certain cancers.
She said the trial looked at whether benefits, such as possible delayed mental decline, outweighed risks like increased bleeding.
Participants hail from suburbs including Maribyrnong, Hoppers Crossing, Williamstown, Altona, Sunshine and Maidstone.
About 16,000 Australians over 70 and 3000 in the US are expected to take part in the trial being conducted in partnership with the Berman Center for Outcomes and Clinical Research in the US.
Half the participants receive 100mg of enteric-coated aspirin daily and the other half receive a matching placebo (dummy tablet), undergoing health checks for five years. Eleven thousand Australians have enrolled to date. More information: 1800 728 745 or aspree.org
