Life Expectancy News and Research

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Life expectancy is the expected (in the statistical sense) number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by e''x'', which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged ''x'', according to a particular mortality experience.

Research show worsening health trends for post-1946 generations

Younger generations appear to be experiencing poorer health earlier in life than previous generations, according to a review of studies comparing national birth cohort datasets involving tens of thousands of people across the UK born since 1946.

22 May 2026

Stem cell infusions improve symptoms in butterfly skin disease

The intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells from family donors is safe and improves symptoms such as pruritus (itching), sleep disturbances, and fatigue associated with Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (RDEB), popularly known as "butterfly skin".

18 May 2026

PSA tests detect 30 percent more cancers but may cause overtreatment

Blood tests to detect potential signs of prostate cancer likely reduce the risk of dying from prostate cancer, an updated Cochrane review finds. This is a shift from the previous version of the review, which did not find sufficient evidence that screening reduced prostate cancer deaths.

15 May 2026

Global health progress reversing in several critical areas, WHO warns

While there have been meaningful improvements in global health over the past decade, with millions benefiting from better prevention, treatment and access to essential services, persistent and emerging challenges mean that the world remains off track to achieve any of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

13 May 2026

Cannabis and tobacco co-use may increase psychosis risk

A new multisite study published in Nature Mental Health found that using cannabis and tobacco together increases the risk of developing psychotic disorders like schizophrenia among those considered high risk.

12 May 2026

Why is the US falling behind other high-income nations on survival?

A JAMA Network Open study found that the US recorded 12.7 million excess deaths compared with 17 peer high-income countries between 1999 and 2022. Circulatory and metabolic diseases drove much of the burden, while drug poisonings, alcohol-related deaths, and suicide sharply widened the gap among younger Americans.

12 May 2026

Enterprise Therapeutics achieves primary efficacy outcome in Phase 2 clinical trial for cystic fibrosis with novel inhaled ENaC blocker ETD001

Enterprise Therapeutics Ltd (Enterprise), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapies to improve the lives of people with respiratory diseases, today announced that its Phase 2 trial for ETD001, the Company's lead candidate for treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF), achieved its primary efficacy outcome.

From Enterprise Therapeutics Ltd 12 May 2026

Cardiometabolic diseases remain leading cause of excess American mortality

Between 1999 and 2022, the US had substantially higher death rates than other wealthy nations, largely due to cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases (including diabetes), Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and drug and alcohol complications.

8 May 2026

Socioeconomic inequality significantly influences temperature-related mortality across Europe

Regions with greater socioeconomic inequalities are more affected by cold weather, whereas areas with higher levels of wealth and urbanization are at greater risk during heatwaves and lower risk during cold spells.

8 May 2026

Disruptions threaten progress in inclusive clinical trials and health equity

JMIR Publications today featured a critical new story in its News and Perspectives section examining the recent waves of disruption to inclusive clinical trials and the emerging strategies to keep health equity on track.

4 May 2026

Early institutional care linked to shorter life expectancy decades later

Infants who grew up in early child care institutions in the 1950s have a much shorter life expectancy than the general population, a long-term study of individuals in Zurich has shown

30 Apr 2026

NIH awards $44 million for landmark study on health challenges in the rural South

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) has been awarded a five-year, $44 million contract from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health for a landmark study focused on persistent health challenges in the rural South.

30 Apr 2026

GLP-1 weight loss is driven mainly by fat loss, not muscle loss

GLP-1-based therapies helped adults with overweight or obesity lose weight mainly by reducing fat mass and visceral adipose tissue, while lean body mass losses were generally modest. The findings suggest these treatments can support higher-quality weight loss when paired with individualized care, nutrition, and resistance training.

27 Apr 2026

New mouse model reveals primary trigger of rare muscle disorder

Myofibrillar myopathy type 6 (MFM6) is a rare genetic muscle disorder that leads to severe muscle weakness and a drastically shortened life expectancy due to a disruption in muscle protein regulation.

24 Apr 2026

Fitness in midlife extends health span and overall life expectancy

How fit you are in midlife may help determine not just how long you live, but how many of those years are spent in good health, according to a new study published today in the JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology.

22 Apr 2026

ACP recommends biennial mammography for women aged 50 to 74

New guidance from the American College of Physicians (ACP) says all asymptomatic, average-risk females ages 50 to 74 should receive biennial screening mammography for breast cancer.

17 Apr 2026

Middle-aged Americans face rising loneliness and mental health challenges

Frank Infurna first started thinking about the plight of middle-aged adults 10 years ago. He conducted a monthly survey, asking about their health, well-being, relationships, and life events.

15 Apr 2026

New research leads to increased understanding of longevity gains in the United States

A new study co-authored by two University of Wisconsin–Madison professors suggests longevity gains across all states and regions for people born between 1941 and 2000, in contrast to previous estimates suggesting a century of stagnation or even declines in parts of the South.

10 Apr 2026

Mount Sinai launches Adams Valve Institute for advanced heart care

The Mount Sinai Health System today announced the launch of the Adams Valve Institute, a new global center dedicated to advancing comprehensive care and surgical techniques for patients with heart valve disease.

7 Apr 2026

Losing a parent hits harder with fewer siblings

Findings suggest that having siblings may buffer the mental health impact of parental loss, with fewer siblings associated with increased medication use.

3 Apr 2026