For Older Adults, Taking Aspirin Regularly May Reduce Chances of Colorectal Cancer by 20 Percent

A study in JAMA Oncology indicates that older adults who take aspirin regularly may be lowering the odds of developing colorectal cancer by 20 percent, reports the Washington Post . The researchers pooled data from 94,540 participants tracked over 30 years or so, with regular aspirin use defined as taking either low-dose (81 mg) or standard-dose (325 mg) at least twice a week. However, this benefit seems to apply only to those who began taking a daily aspirin dose at a younger age, usually in their 50s or 60s, and thus had taken aspirin regularly for five or more years before they turned 70. The authors said people who waited until their 70s to start taking aspirin saw no risk reduction. Some health experts think aspirin's potential benefits are derived from its ability to fight inflammation. Aspirin also helps keep blood clots from forming. But research has also shown regular use can irritate the gastrointestinal lining, induce stomach ulcers, and lead to internal bleeding.