Related Experiment Videos
Aspirin for vascular dementia
P S Williams1, G Rands, M Orrel
1Forensic Psychiatry, Enfield Community Care NHS Trust, Flat 5, 35 Haringey Park, Crouch End, London, UK, N8 9JD. plastix@cableinet.co.uk
Insights
Current research shows no evidence that aspirin benefits patients with vascular dementia. More studies are needed to understand aspirin
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Aspirin is frequently prescribed for patients diagnosed with vascular dementia, despite unanswered questions regarding its efficacy and safety.
- Concerns exist about whether aspirin improves cognition or prognosis in vascular dementia patients.
- The potential risks of aspirin, such as cerebral or gastric hemorrhage, need to be weighed against any benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the existing evidence on the effectiveness of aspirin for treating vascular dementia.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive search of computerized databases, relevant websites, and journals was conducted by two independent reviewers.
- Specialists were consulted for unpublished data, and all identified publications were cross-referenced for additional studies.
- Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included after systematic assessment of study design quality and risk of bias.
Main Results:
- No eligible trials were identified for inclusion in this systematic review.
- The search for relevant research, including unpublished material, was last conducted in February 2000.
Conclusions:
- There is currently no evidence to support the effectiveness of aspirin in treating vascular dementia.
- Further research is required to determine aspirin's effects on cognition, behavior, and quality of life in vascular dementia patients.
- No data were found regarding the risks of aspirin, such as hemorrhage, in this patient population.
Background:
For patients with a diagnosis of vascular dementia there is evidence that aspirin is widely prescribed - in one study, completed by geriatricians and psychiatrists in the UK, 80% of patients with cognitive impairment (with vascular risk factors) were prescribed aspirin. However, a number of queries remain unanswered: Is there convincing evidence that aspirin benefits patients with vascular dementia? Does aspirin affect cognition or improve prognosis? In addition, does the risk of cerebral or gastric haemorrhage outweigh any benefit?
Objectives:
To assess the evidence of effectiveness of the use of aspirin for vascular dementia.
Search Strategy:
Computerized databases were searched independently by two reviewers. In addition, relevant websites were searched and some journals were handsearched. Specialists in the field were approached for unpublished material and any publications found were searched for additional references. The most recent search for trials was carried out in February 2000.
Selection Criteria:
All randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of aspirin for vascular dementia are included. Inclusion/exclusion of studies comprised systematic assessment of the quality of study design and the risk of bias.
Data Collection And Analysis:
Data were extracted independently by both reviewers, using a previously tested data extraction form and, where required, authors were contacted for data not provided in the papers. The aim is to evaluate data recorded via tools assessing cognitive and behavioural changes along with mortality, morbidity and institutionalization data.
Main Results:
No trials are eligible for inclusion in this review.
Reviewer'S Conclusions:
There is no evidence that aspirin is effective in treating patients with a diagnosis of vascular dementia. Further research is needed to assess the effect of aspirin on cognition, and on other outcomes such as behaviour, and quality of life. At present there is no evidence relating to other queries about the use of aspirin for dementia (these are described in the Background section of this review). The most recent search for references to relevant research was carried out in February 2000, but no new evidence was found.