The Latest Medical News

A Summary of The Latest Medical News: # Low-Dose Aspirin Does Not Prevent Cancer in Older Adults, Study Finds A **new long-term study suggests that low-dose aspirin therapy does not reduce overall cancer risk in older adults** and may even increase the risk of cancer-related death.[1] The findings challenge previous research conducted primarily in middle-aged populations and have prompted experts to advise against using aspirin as a cancer prevention strategy in this age group. ## Study Overview and Methodology The research was an extended follow-up of the **Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial**, a large binational randomized clinical trial conducted in Australia and the United States.[1] Researchers followed more than 19,000 community-dwelling older adults over a median follow-up of 8.6 years, examining whether daily low-dose aspirin affected cancer incidence or cancer-related death. The study recorded 3,448 new cancer diagnoses and 1,173 cancer-related deaths.[1] ## Cancer Risk and Incidence Findings Importantly, **low-dose aspirin did not increase the overall chance of getting cancer in older adults**.[1] However, the study revealed a concerning finding: those assigned to aspirin had a **15% higher risk of cancer-related mortality** during the randomized trial period.[1] This elevated mortality risk was partially explained by higher rates of metastatic and stage 4 cancers among aspirin users.[2] ## Age-Related Differences in Aspirin Effectiveness The differences between this study and prior research highlighting aspirin's potential benefits come down to age. **Previous studies showing cancer-preventive benefits of aspirin largely involved younger or middle-aged adults and often required more than 10 years of follow-up to observe an effect.**[1] In contrast, ASPREE participants began aspirin at a median age of 74.[1] Researchers note that age-related changes, such as declining immune function, chronic low-grade inflammation, and differences in tumor biology, could reduce aspirin's potential anti-cancer effects or even contribute to harm in older adults.[1] ## Long-Term Effects After Stopping Aspirin A critical finding emerged when researchers examined what happened after participants stopped taking aspirin. **The results suggest that participants did not have any long-term lasting effects of cancer risk after stopping aspirin.**[1] During the post-trial observation period, the elevated cancer mortality risk seen while participants were actively taking aspirin did not persist.[1] This suggests that aspirin had no "legacy effect" on cancer risk once treatment stopped.[4] ## Clinical Implications **Overall, the study suggests that aspirin therapy should not be used as a strategy to prevent cancer in older adults.**[1] While aspirin remains an important medication for certain cardiovascular conditions, its routine use for preventing cancer in otherwise healthy older adults is not supported by the evidence from this study.[1] The research was published in JAMA Oncology and has significant implications for clinical practice guidelines. Help with your insurance? https://tally.so/r/n012P9