Aspirin doesn't cut cancer risk in older adults

Studies in middle-aged adults suggest that daily aspirin can reduce the risk of cancer, but it’s a different story for people aged 70 or older.

The ASPREE study found no effect on overall cancer incidence for healthy older adults taking low-dose aspirin.

In fact, during the period of the trial there was an elevated cancer mortality risk among participants taking the drug.

Guest/s

• Dr Suzanne Orchard, associate professor in the school of public health and preventative medicine at Monash University

References

• Cancer Incidence and Mortality With Aspirin in Older Adults: Follow-Up of the ASPREE Trial
• The effects of daily low-dose aspirin on white matter hyperintensity lesions and retinal vascular calibre in healthy older adults: the ENVIS-ion exploratory neuroimaging substudy of the ASPREE randomised clinical trial