Several possible studies
Story checked
It’s 2026, and These 7 Aspirin Myths Still Won’t Die (opens in a new tab)
webmd.com · 2018-01-01
Short answer
Several possible studiesNo clear answer.
More than one paper fits the article's details, and none fits well enough to single out. Checking claims against the wrong study would be worse than not checking them at all.
Checked against the study summary. The full text wasn't available, so some details couldn't be settled either way.
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The story
It’s 2026, and These 7 Aspirin Myths Still Won’t Die
webmd.com · 2018-01-01
The story’s checkable claims.
Read the original story (opens in a new tab)NewsLink checks it
Several studies could be the source of this story.
More than one paper fits the article's details, and none fits well enough to single out. Checking claims against the wrong study would be worse than not checking them at all.
Open claim evidenceSearch result
Several studies could fit.
More than one paper fits the article's details, and none fits well enough to single out. Checking claims against the wrong study would be worse than not checking them at all.
Source layer
The 2 papers the story cites
Source study separated from background citations.
The research anchor for the report.
- Cited as backgroundmentioned without context
Recent Trends in Aspirin Use for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in the United States, 2015 to 2023
JACC: Advances · 2025
- Cited as backgroundpresented as the new finding
Effect of Aspirin on All-Cause Mortality in the Healthy Elderly
New England Journal of Medicine · 2018
Evidence layer
Claim by claim
What the story asserts. With no source study, there is nothing to check these against.
Reading mode
Scan verdicts. Open evidence only when needed.
Claim 1 of 6Not checkedDoctors stopped recommending routine daily aspirin for most people years ago, but many people continue taking it despite evidence that it does not increase healthy lifespan for most older adults and may carry long-term risks like bleeding and cancer.View evidenceHide evidence
Not checked
NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Claim 2 of 6Not checkedA follow-up study published in September found that aspirin does not help people live a longer or healthier life, even years after the original trial ended.View evidenceHide evidence
Not checked
NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Claim 3 of 6Not checkedThe article says low-dose aspirin is as effective as high-dose aspirin for preventing blood clots that can cause most heart attacks and strokes, while higher doses such as 325 mg daily increase bleeding risk with no extra benefit.View evidenceHide evidence
As stated325 milligrams daily; 81 milligrams daily
Not checked
NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Claim 4 of 6Not checkedThe article says a 2018 study found daily preventive aspirin increased bleeding risk by 38% in healthy older people over five years.View evidenceHide evidence
As stated38% increased risk of bleeding
Not checked
NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Claim 5 of 6Not checkedThe article says another analysis from Murray and colleagues' long-term trial found that older people taking aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke had an increased risk of developing cancer, especially stage 3 or later cancer.View evidenceHide evidence
Not checked
NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Claim 6 of 6Not checkedThe article says the safest approach is to take daily aspirin only if a doctor prescribes it and to use personalized cardiovascular risk assessment instead of assuming aspirin is harmless or beneficial for prevention.View evidenceHide evidence
Not checked
NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Method layer
No single source study was found.
NewsLink still surfaces nearby research so you can inspect the field instead of a single paper.
Nearby research
No exact source, but these papers are close.
Crossref, PubMed, Europe PMC · 17 candidate papers
Recent Trends in Aspirin Use for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in the United States, 2015 to 2023
JACC: Advances · 2025 · Crossref
Effect of Aspirin on All-Cause Mortality in the Healthy Elderly
New England Journal of Medicine · 2018 · Crossref
Association between eGFR and Disability-Free Survival in Older Adults Varies by Physical Function.
Kidney360 · 2026 · PubMed, Europe PMC
THE ASPREE STUDY: DISABILITY-FREE SURVIVAL, UPDATED RESULTS, SUB-STUDIES, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR ASPIRIN USE
Innovation in Aging · 2019 · Crossref
Aspirin and healthy longevity within racial and ethnic minoritized older adults in the United States
2026 · Europe PMC
And 12 more candidates considered.