Many older Americans–40 percent according to the New York Times–take aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease. Now comes a recommendation from the United States Preventive Services Task Force that they
also take it to prevent heart attacks and colorectal cancer. The Times reports that the task force found that low-dose aspirin can help prevent heart attacks, stroke and colorectal cancer, and that the benefits outweighed the risks in adults ages 50 to 69 who are at high risk for heart disease. The greatest benefit was seen in high-risk people in their 50s, largely because of the risk of harmful bleeds in people older than 60. For people younger than 50 or older than 70, low-dose aspirin is not recommended.