Berk, M.Agustini, B.Woods, R.L.Nelson, M.R.Shah, R.C.Reid, C.M.Storey, E.Fitzgerald, S.M.Lockery, J.E.Wolfe, R.Mohebbi, M.Dodd, S.Murray, A.M.Stocks, N.Fitzgerald, P.B.Mazza, C.McNeil, J.J.2021-04-092021-04-092021Molecular Psychiatry, 2021; 26(9):5161-51701359-41841476-5578http://hdl.handle.net/2440/130043Published online: 27 January 2021Late-life depression is common and often inadequately managed using existing therapies. Depression is also associated with increased markers of inflammation, suggesting a potential role for anti-inflammatory agents. ASPREE-D is a sub-study of ASPREE, a large multi-centre, population-based, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of aspirin vs placebo in older Australian and American adults (median follow-up: 4.7 years) of whom 1879 were depressed at baseline. Participants were given 100 mg daily dose of aspirin or placebo. Depressive symptoms were assessed annually using the validated, self-rated short version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. There was a significant increase in depressive scores (0.6; 95% CI 0.2 to 0.9; χ2 (1)=10.37; p=0.001) and a decreased score in the mental health component of a quality of life scale (–0.7; 95% CI –1.4 to –0.1; χ2 (1)=4.74; p=0.029) in the aspirin group compared to the placebo group. These effects were greater in the first year of follow-up and persisted throughout the study, albeit with small to very small effect sizes. This study failed to demonstrate any benefit of aspirin in the long-term course of depression in this community-dwelling sample of older adults over a 5-year period, and identified an adverse effect of aspirin in the course of depression in those with pre-existing depressive symptoms.en© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2021.HumansAspirinDouble-Blind MethodDepressionQuality of LifeAgedAustraliaJournal article100003398910.1038/s41380-021-01020-50006122537000032-s2.0-85099962880563204Stocks, N. [0000-0002-9018-0361]