Gastric diseases such as peptic ulcer disease and atrophic gastritis are more common in elderly individuals. Although the occurrence of peptic ulcer disease is declining in the general population, this same decline has not occurred in the elderly, who continue to have a high incidence of hospitalization for gastric and duodenal ulcers as well as high mortality.6 The high prevalence of peptic ulcers in the elderly population is likely explained by an increased incidence of Helicobacter pylori infections in older individuals and by the large number of prescriptions for drugs that cause gastric damage such as NSAIDs and aspirin.6 Aspirin blocks the cyclooxygenase enzyme and is deacetylated to salicylate, a cytotoxic agent that impairs mucosal barrier function. The inhibition of cyclooxygenase decreases mucus and bicarbonate secretion, changes the composition of mucus, causes a decline in the hydrophobicity of the epithelial surface, and reduces production of gastroprotective prostaglandins, leaving the gastric mucosa more vulnerable to injury. It is thought that the cytotoxic effects of salicylate combine with the damage caused by cyclooxygenase inhibition to cause an increased susceptibility to gastric mucosal damage.7