tamatoledonews.com – Adults age 70 and older in good health are invited to participate in a University of Iowa study on whether the benefits of using aspirin to prolong a life free of cognitive or physical decline outweigh the risks.

The study, called ASPREE, is funded by the National Institute on Aging. The study compares the use of low-dose aspirin to placebo (inactive substance).

Half of the participants will be randomly assigned to receive 100 milligrams of aspirin once a day, and the other half will receive placebo once a day. Participation involves up to six visits to the UI Clinical Research Center and about 18 telephone contacts over five to six years.

People with heart disease or past heart attacks, serious illnesses, allergy to aspirin or significant thinking or memory problems are not eligible to participate. In addition, people at risk of serious bleeding or on any blood-thinning drugs may not enroll.

For more information, contact Bill Barker at 319-384-5055 or william-barker@uiowa.edu. Additional information is online at www.ASPREE.org and www.PICstudies.org.