Boomer Blues: U.S. Life Expectancy Stagnates Across Generations

A PNAS study using Lexis plots shows U.S. life expectancy has stagnated because baby boomers (1946–1964) have faced higher mortality later in life, driven by AIDS in early adulthood, the opioid crisis and cardiovascular disease in middle to old age, and rising external deaths; 2019 saw a brief dip before COVID-19 pulled life expectancy down again, making future gains hinge on how boomers age and whether younger generations stay healthier.