Not even wealth is saving Americans from dying at rates seen among some of the poorest Europeans
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Fifty years ago, life expectancy in the U.S. and wealthy European countries was relatively similar. Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscription Get exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading. That began to change around 1980. As European life expectancy steadily increased, the U.S. struggled to keep pace — and its life expectancy even began declining in 2014. Today, the wealthiest middle-aged and older adults in the U.S.
AI Summary
Main Idea: A Brown University-led study found that wealthy Americans now face death rates similar to the poorest people in northern and western Europe, pointing to deeper health and social problems in the U.S.
Key Points:
- The study followed nearly 74,000 adults ages 50 to 85 in the U.S. and 16 European countries from 2010 to 2022.
- In both regions, the wealthiest people had about a 40% lower mortality rate than the poorest, but wealthy Europeans still did much better than wealthy Americans.
- Experts said the gap may reflect U.S. problems like unhealthy diets, low exercise, loneliness, stress, and weaker social support, not just health care access.
- The article says Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Department of Health and Human Services are pushing major cuts and changes, while critics warn those moves could make U.S. health outcomes worse.
Impact on the People
Negative Impact
Wealthy Americans may still face high death rates, which could mean more illness, shorter lives, and higher medical and caregiving costs for households and taxpayers.
Positive Impact
Brown University research may push policymakers to fix stress, diet, and care gaps, which could improve health over time.
How did each entity affect people?
Rate how each entity in this article affected the American people.
- Major:Brown Universityeducational / research institution
- Major:Department of Health and Human Servicesgovernment agency or body
Candidate Entities6 candidates · 5 weighted vote min · 70% decision
- Brown Universityeducational / research institutionMajorEvaluated
Irene Papanicolas’s institutional affiliation and the center associated with the study’s lead author.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Department of Health and Human Servicesgovernment agency or bodyMajorEvaluated
Federal agency mentioned in connection with layoffs and restructuring that are part of the article’s policy discussion.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Robert F. Kennedy Jr.personMajorAI selected
Health and Human Services Secretary cited for his stated agenda and public comments on U.S. health outcomes.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Kush DesaipersonContextCandidate
White House spokesman quoted responding to criticism of the administration’s research and spending review.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicineeducational / research institutionContextCandidate
Institution affiliated with Dr. Atheendar Venkataramani, who is quoted interpreting the study.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicineeducational / research institutionContextCandidate
Institution affiliated with Dr. Steven Woolf, who comments on the public-health implications.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold
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