Human life expectancy continues to climb in pockets of Europe, indicating that the limits of human longevity have not yet been reached. However, a comprehensive study analyzing data from 450 regions across western Europe between 1992 and 2019 reveals a growing divergence.
While leading regions, including areas in Northern Italy, Switzerland, and Spain, continue to see consistent gains of roughly two-and-a-half months per year for men and one-and-a-half months for women, progress has stalled or even reversed in other areas. These lagging regions, encompassing parts of East Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, experienced rapid gains in the 1990s but saw a significant slowdown after 2005.
The study highlights that this growing disparity is primarily linked to mortality rates between the ages of 55 and 74. While infant mortality remains low and mortality among those over 75 continues to decelerate, the gains seen in cardiovascular treatments and healthier behaviors in previous decades have faltered for this middle-aged demographic.
Factors such as lifestyle choices, including smoking, alcohol consumption, poor nutrition, and lack of exercise, along with socio-economic conditions, are suggested as potential contributors to this concerning trend. The 2008 economic crisis, for instance, exacerbated regional variations, impacting population health in some areas while contributing to growth in others.