On Longevity Factors in the U.S.

A study on longevity by Amy Finkelstein (MIT economist) and Matthew Gentzkow and Heidi Williams (Stanford U. economists) analyzed records of 6.3 million Medicare beneficiaries from 1999 to 2014 (“Place-Based Drivers of Mortality”, American Economic Review - August 2021).

• Their press release said: “Would you like to live longer? It turns out that where you live, not just how you live, can make a big difference.

• “The study found that many urban areas on the East and West Coasts — including New York City, San Francisco, and Miami — have positive effects on longevity for seniors moving there. Some Midwestern metro areas, including Chicago, also score well.

• “By contrast, a large swath of the deep South has negative effects on longevity for seniors moving there, including much of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and northern Florida. Much of the Southwest, including parts of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona, fares similarly poorly.

• “The research delivers important new information about large-scale drivers of U.S. health outcomes — and raises the question of what it is about different places that affects the elderly’s life expectancy. One clear possibility is the nature of available medical care. Other possible drivers of longevity include climate, pollution, crime, traffic safety, and more.”

Chart: U.S. Life Expectancy by Region (darker = longer)

OUR TAKE

• It is likely that the social-economic factors affecting longevity in the U.S. can be applied to many other regions of the world as well.

• As other research suggests that coastal regions are increasingly at risk from climate change; its effects may reshape the longevity map.

• Regardless of where you live, most people can benefit from avoiding ultra-processed foods, minimizing sugar consumption, moderate exercise, and getting quality sleep.