Aspirin’s long-term effects on cancer, cardiovascular health, and ADRD risk in older adults
Official title: Aspirins legacy on cancer and overall benefit: risk balance over a 15-year horizon
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11412711 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether a low-dose aspirin plan over five years in older adults can balance benefits and risks for cancer, heart health, and dementia risk over the next 15 years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 26, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $211,188 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA301988-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412711 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults aged 70 and older, especially those at risk for cancer or cardiovascular disease and who have been part of prior ASPREE/ASPREE-XT cohorts or similar primary prevention populations.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with higher bleeding risk or contraindications to aspirin may derive little to no benefit and could be exposed to harm.
What this research studies
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital plan a five-year extension of ASPREE-XT to study low-dose aspirin in people aged 70 or older, focusing on cancer prevention, cardiovascular risk prediction, and gastrointestinal bleeding risk. The project aims to update risk models for the oldest-old and to examine long-term colorectal cancer outcomes in the context of modern screening practices. By analyzing health outcomes over a 15-year horizon, the study seeks to clarify who might benefit from aspirin in primary prevention while considering risks relevant to ADRD. The work will leverage existing data and follow-up to generate insights that could guide personalized aspirin recommendations for older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could inform personalized aspirin guidance to balance cancer prevention, heart health, and bleeding risks in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Prior ASPREE/ASPREE-XT work has generated important safety and outcome data, but the long-term cancer and ADRD implications in the oldest-old remain to be clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Warner, Erica T — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Warner, Erica T
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.