Longevity: Life Expectancy Surpasses 78 For the First Time

Federal health officials say falling mortality rates in nearly all the leading causes of death has led to the United States’ highest life expectancy rate in history surpassing 78. Remarkably the average life expectancy for babies born in 2006 was about four months greater than for children born in 2005. U.S. life expectancy continues to trail 30 other nations, including life expectancy leader Japan whose citizens live to an average to 83 years.

The four month jump in life expectancy is significant and officials attributed a number of factors, in particular a mild flu season, for the increase (link):

Health statisticians noted declines of more than 6 percent in stroke and chronic lower respiratory disease (including bronchitis and emphysema), and a drop of more than 5 percent in heart disease and diabetes deaths. The U.S. infant mortality rate dropped more than 2 percent, to 6.7 infant deaths per 1,000 births, from 6.9.

Perhaps the most influential factor in the 2006 success story, however, was the flu. Flu and pneumonia deaths dropped by 13 percent from 2005, reflecting a mild flu season in 2006, Anderson said. That also meant a diminished threat to people with heart disease and other conditions. Taken together, it's a primary explanation for the 22,000 fewer deaths in 2006 from 2005, experts said.

Alzheimer’s disease passed diabetes to become the sixth leading cause of death in the United States in 2006. An estimated 72,914 Americans died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2006.

Link: CDC Release