Americans born between 1970 and 1985 are experiencing worse mortality rates than previous generations, according to a major new study. The research, led by Tufts University social epidemiologist Leah Abrams, analyzed U.S. cause-of-death data from 1979 to 2023.
The findings identify a critical turning point: those born in the 1950s enjoyed steadily declining death rates, but cohorts born after 1970 show deteriorating trends across all-cause mortality.
Increased deaths stem from three primary drivers: cardiovascular disease, cancer-especially colon cancer-and external causes including drug overdoses, suicides, homicides, and traffic accidents. Researchers link these patterns to rising obesity, unhealthy diets, economic inequality, and chronic stress.
Abrams warns that while heart disease and cancer are typically rare in people in their 30s and 40s, the early onset of elevated mortality in these cohorts signals a looming public health crisis as they age.
Despite slight recent gains in national life expectancy, the U.S. continues to lag behind other high-income countries. The study attributes this gap to preventable, human-made factors-including systemic inequities and inadequate public health responses.
The researchers highlight past successes, such as tobacco control, as proof that targeted interventions can reverse negative trends. They urge holistic strategies: reducing social inequality, improving access to healthy food, and addressing mental health and substance use disorders.