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Why are colonoscopies not done after age 80?

Official guidelines from major health organizations, including the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, no longer recommend routine colorectal cancer screening, such as a colonoscopy, for most individuals over age 85. This practice stems from a careful evaluation of the benefits versus the risks in the very elderly population. The decision of why are colonoscopies not done after age 80 is a complex one, involving factors far beyond chronological age.