Early Death - Ages 65-74

Early Death - Ages 65-74 in United States

United States

In 2021, life expectancy at age 65 was 18.4 additional years, and yet many older adults do not live to see their 75th birthday. In 2021 there were 724,266 deaths among adults ages 65-74.

The leading causes of death in the United States in 2021 were heart disease, cancer, COVID-19, unintentional injuries, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases and Alzheimer’s disease, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Research estimates that 48% of all deaths are due to behavioral and other preventable causes. 

In addition to physiological and behavioral factors, social factors contribute to mortality risk. Based on data from 2010, poverty, low social support, living in areas with high poverty, income inequality and racial segregation were associated with increased risk of death in adults ages 65 and older. Social isolation, which affects about one-quarter of older adults, also increases the risk of premature death.

Populations of older adults who experience higher rates of early death include:

• Males compared with females.
• Black, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaska Native adults compared with Asian, multiracial and Hispanic adults.

A variety of intervention strategies that encourage healthy lifestyles, physical and social activity and preventive care may reduce early death among older adults. Smoking prevention and cessation can decrease premature deaths attributable to lung cancer, heart disease and stroke. Addressing risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity and diet can further decrease premature deaths attributable to heart disease and stroke. Physical activity, which includes aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities, has been associated with lower all-cause mortality. 

Moreover, several interventions have been identified to prevent social isolation among older adults. Group interventions enhance social support by providing physical activity sessions, group discussions or therapies. Some studies have also found that technology such as smartphones and social networking sites may help combat loneliness.

Cotterell, Natalie, Tine Buffel, and Christopher Phillipson. 2018. “Preventing Social Isolation in Older People.” Maturitas 113 (July): 80–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2018.04.014.

Czaja, Sara J. 2017. “The Role of Technology in Supporting Social Engagement Among Older Adults.” Public Policy & Aging Report 27 (4): 145–48. https://doi.org/10.1093/ppar/prx034.

Galea, Sandro, Melissa Tracy, Katherine J. Hoggatt, Charles DiMaggio, and Adam Karpati. 2011. “Estimated Deaths Attributable to Social Factors in the United States.” American Journal of Public Health 101 (8): 1456–65. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2010.300086.

Novotney, Amy. 2019. “The Risks of Social Isolation.” Monitor on Psychology 50 (5): 32. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/05/ce-corner-isolation.

Webber, Bryant J., Katrina L. Piercy, Eric T. Hyde, and Geoffrey P. Whitfield. 2022. “Association of Muscle-Strengthening and Aerobic Physical Activity With Mortality in US Adults Aged 65 Years or Older.” JAMA Network Open 5 (10): e2236778. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.36778.

Xu, Jiaquan, Sherry L. Murphy, Kenneth D. Kochanek, and Elizabeth Arias. 2022. “Mortality in the United States, 2021.” NCHS Data Brief No. 456. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db456.htm.

Yu, Kexin, Shinyi Wu, and Iris Chi. 2021. “Internet Use and Loneliness of Older Adults Over Time: The Mediating Effect of Social Contact.” The Journals of Gerontology: Series B 76 (3): 541–50. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaa004.