The research hopes to determine whether the drug Aspirin has properties which delay the onset of physical and mental illnesses in older people.
Bruce Holloway will participate in the so-called ASPREE trial with enthusiasm.
At 86 he enjoys a weekly set of tennis and hopes to do so for some time.
“The big thing about getting older is you want to stay fit if this helps older people stay fitter longer everything will have been achieved,” he said.
The study's chief investigator Professor John McNeil said the $50 million dollar trial will answer a million dollar question.
“Why it's so important - every general practitioner - not only in Australia but around the world is faced with healthy 70-year olds and going through their mind is should I be putting this person on Asprin - will it do any good?” he said.
Participants in Australia and the United States will be given either a daily dose of Asprin or a placebo, then their health will be regularly monitored
Already known for its benefits in cardio and stroke patients, the trial hopes to determine whether the drug could delay the onset of physical and mental illnesses such as alzheimers and dementia.
While there are side effects such as stomach erosions and bleeding, Associate Professor Michael Woodward says the potential up-side is significant.
“If we can delay the onset of dementia by just 5 years, we'll halve the number of people in Australia with dementia,” he said.
If successful the trial could also help relieve a significant financial burden on the tax payer.
As it stands the annual cost of caring for the estimated 350,000 Australians living with dementia is $7 billion dollars; a figure tipped to triple by 2050.
“We could halve that by delaying the onset of dementia by 5-years we'd be saving about 10 billion dollars by 2050 - that's a huge saving to the Australian budget,” said Assoc Professor Woodward.
Participants will make annual GP visits as part of the trial, with results expected in 3 years’ time.
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