The average life expectancy in the United States has now reached 78-years old.
For the first time, the average life expectancy has increased to 78 in 2006.
The figures show a decline in the death rates between 2005 and 2006 according to the CDC.
Declines were seen in 8 out of the 10 leading causes of death, including influenza, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, heart disease, adult diabetes, hypertension, and others.
There was, however, an incrase in Alzheimer’s related-deaths.
Alzheimer’s now tops diabetes as the sixth-leading cause of death in 2006.
Life expectancy for a child born in 2006 is now 78.1 years, four months longer than the 2005 average.