Health worsened as US adults in a study reached midlife

An observational study analysed health data on people in six US birth cohorts, or groups born in different periods, observed from adolescence to middle age. Researchers used two national studies and compared people with and without a four-year college degree.

In the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, general health, mental health and chronic disease worsened as participants reached midlife. Health behaviours improved. Compared with groups in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, participants had worse health than older groups. They generally had worse health than people born in the same period, with some exceptions. Comparisons with younger groups were mixed. Health gaps by education stayed relatively stable with age, with some evidence of widening. These gaps generally widened across birth groups.