New Haven, Conn. — A sweeping new study led by researchers at the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) reveals stark disparities in life expectancy across U.S. states and Washington, D.C. over the past century – offering new insights into how a region’s public health policies, social conditions, and environmental factors can shape people’s lifespans.

Analyzing more than 179 million deaths between 1969 and 2020, the multi-institutional research team traced life expectancy trends by birth cohort — a more precise measure for following the life experiences of a population than traditional year-by-year summaries of mortality, which represent a mix of many generations.

The study, which appears in JAMA Network Open, found that some states saw dramatic gains in life expectancy, while others, particularly in the U.S. South, experienced little or no improvement over an entire century.

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis led a study of nearly 30,000 students that shatters misconceptions about eating disorders, a common and misunderstood condition.

Psychology literature has shown that curiosity tends to decline with age. Research from an international team of psychologists, including from UCLA, shows one type of curiosity can increase well into old age, contradicting prior research. Older adults who maintain curiosity and want to learn new things relevant to their interests may be able to offset or even prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Conversely, those who show muted curiosity and disinterest may be at risk for dementia.