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Living a long chimpanzee life

Researchers at Kyoto University analyzed data from over 1,000 captive chimpanzees in Japan, revealing an average life expectancy of 40 years for adults, with males reaching 41.5 years and females 39.2 years on average. The study highlights the importance of providing long-term care to these intelligent, long-lived creatures.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPrimates·DateOct 3, 2019

In Russia, declines in alcohol consumption and mortality have gone hand in hand

A new review shows that Russia's decline in overall alcohol consumption has gone hand-in-hand with a parallel decrease in the country's mortality rates. The study analyzed data on death rates, cause of death, life expectancy, and beer sales to find this correlation. Government policies, including restrictions on hours of sale, minimum ...

SourceJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs·JournalJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs·DateOct 3, 2019

Fatal flaws in UK Government's price of a life

A UK government-used VPF valuation undervalues human life due to insufficient sample size and invalid interpretation methods. An alternative method called J-value offers an accurate assessment by balancing safety spend against extended life expectancy, valuing a life at £8.59 million.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalMeasurement·DateOct 1, 2019

Air pollution in US is associated with mortality and lower life expectancy

A study found that current fine particulate matter pollution in the US is associated with an estimated 15,612 female deaths and 14,757 male deaths, resulting in a loss of national life expectancy by 0.15 years for women and 0.13 years for men. Lowering PM2.5 pollution could benefit the entire US population and reduce health inequalities.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJul 23, 2019

Keeping Chicago's families healthy

The University of Illinois Chicago will launch a program using community health workers, social workers, and doulas to improve health outcomes for pregnant women and their children in historically underserved neighborhoods. Maternal mortality rates are disproportionately high among black women, prompting the initiative.

Lower pension, shorter life

A study by Max Planck Institute found that pension gap between rich and poor in Germany has grown significantly over the past 20 years. Life expectancy of poor men is diverging more from rich men, with those receiving high retirement benefits living 19 years longer on average compared to low-income men.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateApr 11, 2019

Aging and chronic diseases share genetic factors, study reveals

A study published in Communications Biology found that chronic conditions like cancer and diabetes share common underlying mechanisms with aging. The researchers analyzed genetic data from over 300,000 people and identified 12 genetic loci associated with healthy life expectancy.

SourceGero·JournalCommunications Biology·DateJan 30, 2019

A molecule for fighting muscular paralysis

Researchers at UNIGE have identified tamoxifen, a breast cancer medication, as a potential treatment for myotubular myopathy, a genetic disease that causes muscle paralysis and death before two years of age. The molecule greatly reduces the progression of the disease and boosts life expectancy in animal models by a factor of seven.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 19, 2018

UTA urban researcher shows impact of urban sprawl on life expectancy, innovation hubs

A recent study by University of Texas at Arlington researcher Shima Hamidi finds a correlation between urban sprawl and decreased life expectancy in the US. The study suggests that changes in urban planning and building practices can help improve quality-of-life issues, including life expectancy and economic mobility.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Arlington·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateJul 3, 2018

Following five healthy lifestyle habits may increase life expectancy by decade or more

Researchers found that adopting five low-risk lifestyle factors—eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding smoking—can add up to 14 years of life for women and 12 years for men. This translates to a 74% lower risk of early death compared to those who didn

How does living in a big city increase life expectancy?

Residents of Moscow and St Petersburg live significantly longer than those in other regions of Russia due to high quality medical care and higher education levels. The study found a significant difference in life expectancy between city dwellers and rural residents, with average increases of 4.3 years for women and 2.6 years for men.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalEuropean Journal of Population / Revue européenne de Démographie·DateJan 30, 2018

Want a healthier population? Spend less on health care and more on social services

A Canadian study found that increased social spending was associated with improved health outcomes, while increased healthcare spending had no similar effect. The researchers suggest that reallocating funds from healthcare to social services could lead to significant improvements in life expectancy and mortality rates.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateJan 22, 2018