Do U.S Presidents Live Longer Than the Average Joe?
Do U.S Presidents Live Longer Than the Average Joe?
Better Health Care Access, Education, and Income Help Explain Longer Life, Research Suggests
Dec. 6, 2011 - Yes, the job seems to turn them gray and age them before our eyes, but a new study shows that being president of the United States may not actually shorten a man's life.
In fact, those holding the highest elected office in the land tend to live longer than other men who were the same age when they first took office. This was true even when factoring in that American presidents are thought to age twice as fast while in office.
The study appears in the Dec. 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
To understand how aging affects the presidency, longevity researcher Stuart J. Olshansky, PhD, included data from 34 American presidents who died of natural causes.
For those no longer living, he looked at the commander in chiefs' ages at inauguration and at death. This was compared to death records for other men who were the same age when the presidents entered the White House.
For living presidents, the study looked at the men's ages when they first took office and their estimated life span. This was compared to the expected life span for same-aged peers.
18 Secrets for a Longer Life
One doctor has suggested that the typical president ages two years for every year in office. And if you compare photos of the men when they enter and leave the White House, they do look older -- with more gray hair (or less hair) and more wrinkles.
To account for aging twice as fast, Olshansky subtracted two days of life for every day the president held office from their estimated life span.
Two-thirds of American presidents who died of natural causes lived longer than other men in the country during that same time period. Their average age at death was 78; their estimated age at death with "accelerated aging" was 67.
The actual life span for all 34 presidents who died of natural causes was 73 years on average. Presidents who died younger than expected lived to 62 rather than an estimated 67.8 years.
All living presidents have already had a longer life than their peers or will likely do so.
Do US Presidents Live Longer Than the Average Joe?
Better Health Care Access, Education, and Income Help Explain Longer Life, Research Suggests
Dec. 6, 2011 - Yes, the job seems to turn them gray and age them before our eyes, but a new study shows that being president of the United States may not actually shorten a man's life.
In fact, those holding the highest elected office in the land tend to live longer than other men who were the same age when they first took office. This was true even when factoring in that American presidents are thought to age twice as fast while in office.
The study appears in the Dec. 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
To understand how aging affects the presidency, longevity researcher Stuart J. Olshansky, PhD, included data from 34 American presidents who died of natural causes.
For those no longer living, he looked at the commander in chiefs' ages at inauguration and at death. This was compared to death records for other men who were the same age when the presidents entered the White House.
For living presidents, the study looked at the men's ages when they first took office and their estimated life span. This was compared to the expected life span for same-aged peers.
18 Secrets for a Longer Life
Health to the Chief?
One doctor has suggested that the typical president ages two years for every year in office. And if you compare photos of the men when they enter and leave the White House, they do look older -- with more gray hair (or less hair) and more wrinkles.
To account for aging twice as fast, Olshansky subtracted two days of life for every day the president held office from their estimated life span.
Two-thirds of American presidents who died of natural causes lived longer than other men in the country during that same time period. Their average age at death was 78; their estimated age at death with "accelerated aging" was 67.
The actual life span for all 34 presidents who died of natural causes was 73 years on average. Presidents who died younger than expected lived to 62 rather than an estimated 67.8 years.
All living presidents have already had a longer life than their peers or will likely do so.
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