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Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), low-dose
The classic geroprotector candidate that was properly tested — and largely failed. The large ASPREE trial found daily low-dose aspirin did NOT extend disability-free survival in healthy older adults and was associated with more bleeding (and numerically higher mortality). It retains real value in secondary cardiovascular prevention, but for healthy-aging/primary prevention the evidence is negative. A medical drug, not a supplement.
Prescription medication — not a dietary supplement
Aspirin (low-dose) is a prescription (or investigational) drug, not a supplement. It is included here for reference because people research and discuss it (often used off-label) — not as a recommendation. Take it only under a qualified clinician's supervision and only as prescribed; do not source it from grey-market vendors, where identity, purity, and dosing are unverified. The evidence below reflects its clinical trials.
What the evidence says
Most Aspirin (low-dose) studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2009–2026 with a typical study size of 760 participants.
Based on 999 studies · 309 meta-analyses · 649 RCTs · 179,343 total participants
Confidence
High confidenceBy outcome
Low-dose aspirin was a leading geroprotector candidate, but the large ASPREE randomized trial found it did NOT extend disability-free survival or reduce mortality in healthy older adults and increased bleeding; it retains value only in secondary cardiovascular prevention — so for the longevity/healthy-aging thesis the evidence is essentially negative.
3,908 rigorous studies
3,161 randomized trials · 642 meta-analyses · 447 systematic reviews
Our evidence rating for Aspirin (low-dose) is accountable to this entire body of rigorous research indexed in PubMed — not a hand-picked subset.
PubMed · as of Jul 2026
72 trials ongoing or recruiting · 179 completed on ClinicalTrials.gov
52 of the completed trials have posted results
Registered trials show research momentum for Aspirin (low-dose), not proof of effect — a registration is a plan, and posted results are sponsor-reported, not peer-reviewed. They are never counted toward the evidence rating above.
Browse these trials on ClinicalTrials.govClinicalTrials.gov · as of Aug 2026
Low-dose aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) irreversibly inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX-1/COX-2), blocking thromboxane-driven platelet aggregation (its antithrombotic effect) and reducing prostaglandin-mediated inflammation.
Because chronic inflammation and thrombosis underlie much age-related disease — and because epidemiology hinted at lower cancer and cardiovascular mortality — aspirin was one of the most promising candidate geroprotectors, and it was put to a proper test.
This entry is included precisely because the result is an honest, instructive negative.
The large randomized ASPREE trial (Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) gave healthy adults aged 70+ (65+ for some groups) daily low-dose aspirin for ~5 years and found it did NOT improve disability-free survival (the healthy-aging primary endpoint), did NOT reduce all-cause mortality (the aspirin group had a numerically higher mortality, partly cancer-related), and significantly increased major bleeding.
Broader primary-prevention meta-analyses reach the same balance: a small reduction in cardiovascular events offset by a comparable increase in major bleeding, so for people without established cardiovascular disease the net benefit is neutral-to-negative — which is why guidelines have walked back routine primary-prevention aspirin.
Aspirin remains genuinely valuable in SECONDARY prevention (people with established cardiovascular disease) and has a real, separate evidence base for reducing certain cancers (e.g. colorectal) over long horizons.
But as a take-it-for-longevity/healthy-aging drug, the best evidence says it doesn't deliver and adds bleeding risk. It is an inexpensive medical drug, not a dietary supplement, and should be used only on medical advice.
The score reflects a real but narrow (secondary-prevention) benefit and a clean negative result for the healthy-aging/longevity thesis, plus a meaningful bleeding harm.
Irreversibly acetylates COX-1 in platelets, blocking thromboxane A2 and platelet aggregation — the antithrombotic effect (and the bleeding risk).
Reduced prostaglandin synthesis lowers inflammation — the rationale for proposed anti-aging and anti-cancer effects.
The same platelet inhibition that prevents clots increases gastrointestinal and intracranial bleeding — the core risk-benefit tension.
How Aspirin (low-dose) works — from molecular targets to health outcomes. Click an edge to see supporting research.This visualization is in beta — pathways are being refined and expanded.
Routine aspirin is not recommended — ASPREE found no benefit and more bleeding.
Secondary prevention is evidence-supported — but that is a medical decision, not a longevity choice.
Avoid — bleeding risk outweighs benefit.
Additive bleeding risk — combined use only under medical supervision.
Can blunt aspirin's antiplatelet effect and add GI-bleeding risk.
Increases gastrointestinal bleeding risk.
Tip: Take with food; consider gastroprotection; avoid with ulcer history.
Tip: Take with food or use enteric-coated.
Tip: Higher in older adults — a key reason ASPREE found net harm in healthy seniors.
Aspirin (low-dose) has an evidence score of 3/10 — emerging evidence based on 2356 indexed studies, including 3 meta-analyses. The classic geroprotector candidate that was properly tested — and largely failed. The large ASPREE trial found daily low-dose aspirin did NOT extend disability-free survival in healthy older adults and was associated with more bleeding (and numerically higher mortality). It retains real value in secondary cardiovascular prevention, but for healthy-aging/primary prevention the evidence is negative. A medical drug, not a supplement. Representative study: PMID 30667501.
The commonly studied dose of Aspirin (low-dose) is Low-dose aspirin is 75–100 mg/day. For primary prevention / healthy aging, current evidence (ASPREE) does not support routine use — discuss with a clinician, who will weigh cardiovascular risk against bleeding. Secondary prevention (established CVD) is a separate, evidence-supported use.. Individual needs vary — start at the lower end of the range and adjust based on how you respond.
Timing is flexible for Aspirin (low-dose) — consistent daily use matters more than the time of day. Take with food (or use enteric-coated) to reduce gastric irritation; consistency matters more than time of day.
Aspirin (low-dose) should be used with caution — talk to a healthcare provider before taking it. The most commonly reported side effects are gastrointestinal bleeding / ulcers, gastric irritation / dyspepsia, intracranial bleeding. Use caution if any of these apply to you: Active or prior major bleeding / peptic ulcer; Bleeding disorders; Aspirin/NSAID allergy.
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Reviewed by Dr. Baher Al Hakim · Last reviewed June 2026 · evidence from 1,001 studies · how we score · editorial policy
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication.
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