People walking in Pasadena, California, on July 23. Photo: Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images
Americans who are wealthier at midlife tend to live longer than their less-wealthy peers — including peers who also happen to be their siblings, according to a new study published Friday in JAMA Health Forum.
Between the lines: The study suggests that the association between wealth and longevity isn't an artifact of early life experiences or genetics.
- Even among twins, greater wealth correlated with a greater chance of survival later in life.
The big picture: The wealth gap between high-income and low-income Americans is large and growing.
What they're saying: "Policies that support individuals' ability to accrue wealth and achieve financial security could have considerable health benefits," the authors conclude.
- "In addition, policies to reduce the wealth gap may generate substantial returns to public health."
Go deeper: 41,410 people became ultra-wealthy in 2020