Will Old Age and Bad Health Bankrupt the Americas?
Will Old Age and Bad Health Bankrupt the Americas?
By
Elizabeth T. Cafiero, David E. Bloom
Longer life spans increase vulnerability to cancer, stroke and other costly illnesses.
This year, about 75 percent of those who die in the Americas will die of an NCD.1 Over 33 percent of these NCD deaths will occur in people under age 70 and thus are considered premature. Some 25 percent of all NCD deaths will occur among working-age people.2
Although the four main NCDs pose the greatest health burden, other NCDs—ranging from neuropsychiatric conditions (e.g., schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer’s disease) to musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) and sense organ disorders (e.g.,...
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