Cause of death and active life expectancy in the older population of the United States

This study investigates how the major causes of death end active and inactive life among older Americans. Based on data from the Longitudinal Study of Aging, a multistate life-table model of individuals' age-graded mortality and disability experiences reveals that many, and sometimes most, of the deaths occurring among the elderly population happen when people are active relatively close to death. This pattern is especially evident for men. Despite differences between active and inactive elders of a given age in the length of inactive life, few differences occur in the causes of death. Simulations show that many of the gains in life expectancy via the reduction in major diseases are felt in terms of increased active life, especially among the young-old and men. These results point to possible mechanisms in which improvements in mortality extend active life.