A new analysis from Tufts University indicates that Americans born after 1970 are experiencing higher mortality rates compared to their parents' generation. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analyzed 45 years of U.S. mortality data from 1979 to 2019. It found that individuals from Generation X and millennials are facing increased death rates from chronic illnesses and external causes, such as drug overdoses and suicides, between the ages of 30 and 49.
Historically, life expectancy in the U.S. improved throughout the 20th century, but this trend began to reverse for those born in the 1950s, with a notable decline for those born after 1970. The research highlights two primary factors contributing to this decline: generational decline, where newer generations enter middle age with higher risk factors, and a nationwide setback that began around 2010, affecting all adults regardless of birth year. This period saw a slowdown in progress against cardiovascular disease.
From 2010 to 2019, U.S. life expectancy improved by only 0.26 years, compared to an average increase of 1.78 years per decade over the previous 50 years. The life expectancy gap between the U.S. and the leading nation has widened from 2.6 years in 1983 to 4.7 years by 2009. The study notes that younger generations are facing rising obesity rates and related health issues, while the opioid epidemic has also contributed to increased overdose deaths.
The researchers suggest that economic inequality, social instability, and chronic stress may be underlying factors driving the increase in mortality rates. They plan to analyze 2024 mortality data to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these trends.