Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Asian longevity and psychology

From NPR morning edition, September 12 2006:


The 'Eight Americas'
Dr. Christopher Murray analyzed mortality data between 1982 and 2001 by county, race, gender and income. He found some distinct groupings that he named the "eight Americas:"

Asian-Americans, average per capita income of $21,566, have a life expectancy of 84.9 years.
Northland low-income rural whites, $17,758, 79 years.
Middle America (mostly white), $24,640, 77.9 years.
Low income whites in Appalachia, Mississippi Valley, $16,390, 75 years.
Western American Indians, $10,029, 72.7 years.
Black Middle America, $15,412, 72.9 years.
Southern low-income rural blacks, $10,463, 71.2 years.
High-risk urban blacks, $14,800, 71.1 years.
--The Associated Press

For example, scientists have long thought that the Asian longevity advantage would disappear once immigrant families adopted higher-fat Western diets. Murray's study is the first to closely examine second-generation Asian-Americans, and found their advantage persists.

(This indicate other factors including possible genetic factor here)

If you check CIA world fact data, most countries at top of life expectancy are either Chinese nations or Japan. The international data are consistent with USA domestic data, which futher imply genetic factor.


1 Andorra 83.51 2006 est.
2 Macau 82.19 2006 est.
3 San Marino 81.71 2006 est.
4 Singapore 81.71 2006 est.
5 Hong Kong 81.59 2006 est.
6 Japan 81.25 2006 est.
7 Sweden 80.51 2006 est.
8 Switzerland 80.51 2006 est.
9 Australia 80.50 2006 est.
10 Guernsey 80.42 2006 est.
11 Iceland 80.31 2006 est.

Most East Asian people exhibit strong tendency for future planning like good at saving, investment for future, education ect. Most theses East Asian nations even show higher official foreign reserves which reflect their national psychic of saving for the future.

Such strong tendency for future planning is very likely genetically related to their natural longevity. When people have natural shorter life expectancy, future planning become less important. Instead, living for the day is more relevant.

Who dares to chanllenge conventional view or genius could become anothergenius.