By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 07:54 EST, 30 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:54 EST, 30 November 2013 . It is already used to help prevent heart attacks and strokes, and now researchers believe the humble aspirin could also hold the key to warding off dementia and cancer. The claim came yesterday at the launch of the largest ever study into the health benefits of the everyday medicine, which has long been thought of as a health-booster. A study of 15,000 people aged over 70 will be the most extensive clinical trial on the use of aspirin to prevent disease in the elderly. Life-saver: Aspirin is already used to prevent strokes and heart attacks and now researchers have discovered it could also help fight off cancer and dementia . Research team leader Professor Mark Nelson, from Hobart’s Menzies Research Institute in Tasmania, Australia, said: 'Remember aspirin is an over-the-counter medication; you don’t need a doctor to prescribe it, you don’t need a doctor to tell you you’ve turned 70. So this is something that can be done very simply, very cheaply if we find that it’s an effective strategy.' Prof Nelson said the study starts next summer and results are expected in 2018. Millions of people who take the pill to fight heart disease or the risk of a stroke benefit from its effectiveness at thinning the blood and how it helps to prevent clotting. It cuts the danger of further heart attacks or strokes by at least 23 per cent. Hope: The research could pave the way for a breakthrough in preventing the onset of dementia, which affects thousands of elderly people (file picture) Research has shown regular users have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, the main form of dementia. Scientists believe its protective effect may be due to its anti-clotting action helping blood flow to the brain. Prof Nelson said: 'There’s a number of reasons why it might. The number one reason would be related to stroke. If you have a stroke you knock out a large area of your brain and therefore your ability to think is affected. 'There is also the possibility of lots of what are called microinfarcts, which means small areas of brain getting knocked off very slowly.' Research has also shown that aspirin may have a role in fighting cancer, particularly gastro-intestinal cancers. Wonder drug: It is hoped taking the pills could also stave off cancers in the gastro-intestinal tract . Prof Nelson said: 'There’s some very good evidence around to suggest aspirin may prevent cancers, especially cancers of the gastro-intestinal tract. 'Now that makes sense because you take it orally so in aspirin you’ve got that natural component.' In the study – in the journal Contemporary Clinical Trials – the team wants to establish whether the benefits of a low dose of aspirin outweigh the risks linked to its use. Prof Nelson said: 'If you’ve never had a heart attack or stroke before, what’s called primary prevention, we really don’t know in an elderly population whether you’re more likely to get benefit from taking the aspirin, maybe related to stroke or heart attack. 'Or more likely to be harmed, because aspirin actually can cause an increase in your risk of haemorrhagic stroke, bleeding type strokes and it can also cause bleeding into the stomach.' He cautioned about the 'catch-22' of aspirin, which can also lead some people to have a major stroke because of increased blood flow. Alzheimer’s Society research chief Dr Doug Brown said: 'We already know that prescribed aspirin has the potential to prevent heart disease and stroke in people at risk of these conditions, and it would be an additional benefit if it could delay the onset of dementia.' Dr Simon Ridley of Alzheimer’s Research UK said: 'Systematic reviews of previous aspirin trials have so far showed no evidence that the drugs can benefit people with dementia, but the studies done to date have been relatively small. Large-scale controlled trials could provide more conclusive evidence.' He added: 'We look forward to seeing the results.'
Australian researchers also think the drug could ward off stomach cancer .
They are about to carry out clinical trial of 15,000 over-70s .
It is already known to reduce risk of a heart attack by 23 per cent .
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 07:54 EST, 30 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:54 EST, 30 November 2013 . It is already used to help prevent heart attacks and strokes, and now researchers believe the humble aspirin could also hold the key to warding off dementia and cancer. The claim came yesterday at the launch of the largest ever study into the health benefits of the everyday medicine, which has long been thought of as a health-booster. A study of 15,000 people aged over 70 will be the most extensive clinical trial on the use of aspirin to prevent disease in the elderly. Life-saver: Aspirin is already used to prevent strokes and heart attacks and now researchers have discovered it could also help fight off cancer and dementia . Research team leader Professor Mark Nelson, from Hobart’s Menzies Research Institute in Tasmania, Australia, said: 'Remember aspirin is an over-the-counter medication; you don’t need a doctor to prescribe it, you don’t need a doctor to tell you you’ve turned 70. So this is something that can be done very simply, very cheaply if we find that it’s an effective strategy.' Prof Nelson said the study starts next summer and results are expected in 2018. Millions of people who take the pill to fight heart disease or the risk of a stroke benefit from its effectiveness at thinning the blood and how it helps to prevent clotting. It cuts the danger of further heart attacks or strokes by at least 23 per cent. Hope: The research could pave the way for a breakthrough in preventing the onset of dementia, which affects thousands of elderly people (file picture) Research has shown regular users have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, the main form of dementia. Scientists believe its protective effect may be due to its anti-clotting action helping blood flow to the brain. Prof Nelson said: 'There’s a number of reasons why it might. The number one reason would be related to stroke. If you have a stroke you knock out a large area of your brain and therefore your ability to think is affected. 'There is also the possibility of lots of what are called microinfarcts, which means small areas of brain getting knocked off very slowly.' Research has also shown that aspirin may have a role in fighting cancer, particularly gastro-intestinal cancers. Wonder drug: It is hoped taking the pills could also stave off cancers in the gastro-intestinal tract . Prof Nelson said: 'There’s some very good evidence around to suggest aspirin may prevent cancers, especially cancers of the gastro-intestinal tract. 'Now that makes sense because you take it orally so in aspirin you’ve got that natural component.' In the study – in the journal Contemporary Clinical Trials – the team wants to establish whether the benefits of a low dose of aspirin outweigh the risks linked to its use. Prof Nelson said: 'If you’ve never had a heart attack or stroke before, what’s called primary prevention, we really don’t know in an elderly population whether you’re more likely to get benefit from taking the aspirin, maybe related to stroke or heart attack. 'Or more likely to be harmed, because aspirin actually can cause an increase in your risk of haemorrhagic stroke, bleeding type strokes and it can also cause bleeding into the stomach.' He cautioned about the 'catch-22' of aspirin, which can also lead some people to have a major stroke because of increased blood flow. Alzheimer’s Society research chief Dr Doug Brown said: 'We already know that prescribed aspirin has the potential to prevent heart disease and stroke in people at risk of these conditions, and it would be an additional benefit if it could delay the onset of dementia.' Dr Simon Ridley of Alzheimer’s Research UK said: 'Systematic reviews of previous aspirin trials have so far showed no evidence that the drugs can benefit people with dementia, but the studies done to date have been relatively small. Large-scale controlled trials could provide more conclusive evidence.' He added: 'We look forward to seeing the results.'
November 2013 . It is already used to help researchers believe the humble aspirin could also clinical trial on the use of aspirin to prevent disease or the risk of a stroke benefit from its per cent. Hope: The research could pave the way stroke or heart attack. 'Or more likely to be