The New York Times (4/20, A11, Tavernise, Subscription Publication) reports, “Life expectancy declined slightly for white Americans in 2014, according to new… data” from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. The data, which were “drawn from all deaths recorded in the country in 2014, showed that life expectancy for whites dropped to 78.8 years in 2014 from 78.9 in 2013.”

NCHS statistician Elizabeth Arias, who analyzed the data, “said drug overdoses, liver disease and suicide were the main drivers of the gloomy trends among whites in recent years, a pattern also found by other researchers,” and particularly among middle-aged white women.

In “To Your Health,” the Washington Post (4/20, Achenbach) reports that “Hispanic life expectancy rose from 81.6 to 81.8 years between 2013 and 2014; gains were seen for both males and females.” Meanwhile, “life expectancy for blacks rose from 75.1 to 75.2 years, driven by a particularly large jump among black males, from 71.8 to 72.2 years.”

Related Links:

— “White Americans Are Dying Younger as Drug and Alcohol Abuse Rises,” Sabrina Tavernise, New York Times, April 20, 2016.

The Washington Post (4/18) reports that physiological stress and psychological stress both “have molecular underpinnings,” according to Richard J. Hodes, director of the National Institute on Aging. The article mentions a study published last year that found “social stress” may result in shorter telomeres and “can have similar effects on a different measure of biological aging: the methylation pattern of DNA.”

Researchers “used a methylation-based ‘clock’ to estimate the biological age of 100 black women in the United States who have been followed since 1997” and found that nearly “70 percent of women whose family’s per-capita income was less than $3,900 per year showed ‘accelerated aging’ compared with the group average.” The Post adds that, “higher-than-average biological age was also strongly associated with financial pressure, defined as difficulty paying monthly bills.”

Related Links:

— “Stress and poverty may make you old before your time,” David Brown, Washington Post, April 18, 2016.

HealthDay (4/18, Preidt) reports that over 50% of US “adults believe children have worse emotional and mental health than children in previous generations,” the findings of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health reveal. In addition, “many of the nearly 2,700 respondents…believe youngsters today have higher stress levels, less quality family time, and poorer coping skills and personal friendships.”

Related Links:

— “Many U.S. Adults Think Kids’ Health Is Worse Today,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, April 18, 2016.

HealthDay (4/16, Preidt) reported that while “depression, stress and exhaustion are known to increase heart attack risk,” research suggests individuals “who’ve already had a heart attack may not be getting the treatment they need for these conditions.” Investigators came to this conclusion after studying “more than 800 people younger than 75,” all of whom had experienced a heart attack. The findings were presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting.

Related Links:

— “http://consumer.healthday.com/cardiovascular-health-information-20/heart-attack-news-357/heart-attack-patients-have-worse-mental-health-709968.html,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, April 16, 2016.

HealthDay (4/15, Preidt) reported, “Depression and suicidal thoughts or attempts are common among youth who join gangs, and these problems get worse after they join,” the findings of a study published online April 13 in Criminal Justice and Behavior suggest. After analyzing “data from more than 11,000 students in middle schools and high schools across” the US, researchers “found that gang membership was associated with greater levels of depression, a 67 percent increase in suicidal thoughts, and a 104 percent increase in suicide attempts.”

Related Links:

— “Depression More Common in Kids Who Join Gangs, Study Finds,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, April 15, 2016.