Daily aspirin does not prevent AMD from developing and getting worse: study

A new study finds that taking low-dose aspirin over the long term did not affect the progression of age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, nor did it completely stop the risk.

Researchers used the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly-AMD, or ASPREE-AMD, part of the ASPREE trial to evaluate the effects of aspirin on AMD, the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in old people. The study was published Thursday in JAMA Ophthalmology.

No interventions exist to delay the progression of AMD, although some research has shown that supplements and nutritional support can help.

Investigators looked at retinal photographs taken between March 2010 and January 2015, and again three and five years after people were randomly assigned to study groups. A total of 4,993 people aged 70 or over were registered. None of the affected people suffered from dementia, physical disability limiting autonomy, cardiovascular disease or chronic illness.

The team compared two groups: one that took 100 mg of aspirin per day and another that took a placebo. Follow-up data were available for 3,208 people.

During the study, 19.4% of people taking aspirin developed AMD, compared to 19.1% of those who did not take the drug. Cumulative progression from early/intermediate AMD to late AMD was observed in 2.3% of participants in the aspirin group and 3.1% in the placebo group.

The team noted that the approximate follow-up time is a relatively short period to reach definitive conclusions. However, based on this time frame, aspirin does not appear to help prevent or slow the progression of AMD.

In short, the researchers said the study results do not support the idea that low doses of aspirin taken daily can prevent people from developing AMD or prevent it from getting worse.

Some research has shown that supplements can delay the progression of AMD, while a more recent study found that cetylcholinesterase inhibitors, or AChEIs, used to treat Alzheimer’s disease may reduce the risk of AMD.