The University of Iowa’s medical center is one of 20 nationwide that’re participating in the largest international trial ever sponsored by the National Institute on Aging. The study is called ASPEREE, or “Aspirin for Reducing Events in the Elderly.”

The University of Iowa’s, Michael Ernst, is the principal investigator in the study. He says the main purpose of the ASPREE trial is to investigate if a daily aspirin in an otherwise healthy population will help prolong a life free of disability.

Disability covers a variety of issues, things like dementia, loss of activities of daily living, cardiovascular events and stroke events. The international study involves 19,000 people with more than half of them in Australia. Ernts says low-dose aspiring takes on a slightly different meaning in this study.

Because this is an international trial, they are using a 100-milligram dose for the aspirin, which is the international measure for a low dose. The U.S. is the only country with an 81-milligram dose. The study involves healthy Iowans over age 70. They’re tested for their physical strength and cognitive thinking abilities before taking part.

Half of the group will be given the low dose aspirin and half a placebo and then be periodically checked over the next five years to gauge the impact on their health.