Study of gait (walking) speed and handgrip in older adults
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ASPREE results summary
THE ASPREE PROJECT
Aspirin and Ageing Health Research
Populations around the world are ageing. The ASPREE project is a long-term multi-centre, bi-national study of aspirin and health in older adults, with the purpose to discover ways to maintain health, quality of life and independence as we age.
This landmark research has two components:
1) ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly), a randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial of low-dose (100mg) aspirin in healthy older adults. The trial’s ground-breaking findings underpin revised international aspirin prescribing guidelines.
2) ASPREE-XT (ASPREE – eXTension) study, an ongoing, follow-up observational health study to investigate long-lasting effects of low-dose aspirin on disease, such as cancer. Additionally, it investigates a broad range of factors that contribute to the maintenance of physical and cognitive health in older adults.
Findings from the ASPREE project advance the care and wellbeing of ageing adults around the world.
key facts
19,114
ASPREE Participants
All participants – 16,703 in Australia (aged 70+ years) and 2,411 in the U.S. (minorities aged 65+ years) – were free of dementia, significant physical disability and known cardiovascular disease at enrolment.
100%
Public funded
The ASPREE Project is funded by the Australian and U.S. governments and is led by Monash University in Australia and the Berman Centre for Outcomes and Clinical Research in the United States.
18 +
Specialty sub-studies
Thanks to the support of participants during the ASPREE project, multiple sub-studies have provided and will continue to provide, invaluable information on aspects of health and ageing.
KEY MILESTONES
ASPREE Trial Results
In September 2018, the ASPREE trial published results in three separate papers in one edition of the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.
Translation into Care
The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association adopted ASPREE findings into their revised primary prevention aspirin guidelines.
ASPREE-XT Commences
ASPREE-XT is an important follow up study into demographic, health, genomic and environmental factors that contribute to healthy ageing.
Page updated: 1 March 2021
LATEST NEWS
Poor gait/handgrip linked to dementia risk
Walking speed and grip strength could be early indicators of dementia before the onset of noticeable symptoms, new findings from the ASPREE trial reveals. Researchers found slow walking speed combined with weak hand grip was a stronger predictor of cognitive decline and dementia in older adults than either measure alone.
Links to studies summarised in the latest participant newsletter
A post with links to more information about studies summarised in the latest ‘TABLET’ (Winter_Spring 2022) participant newsletter.
Self perceptions of quality of life may flag health events
Four studies into ASPREE Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) data found that self-perceptions of health and wellbeing were a valuable tool in helping to identify older adults at risk of adverse health events, and may assist with health care.