Why Are So Many Men Dying at Age 62?

Summary

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WSJ Your Money Briefing:

Why Are So Many Men Dying at Age 62?

Date: February 14, 2018
Host: JR Whalen
Guest: Demetria Gallegos (WSJ News Editor)
Length: ~5:25 (main content)

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Overview

This episode sheds light on a striking and unsettling spike in male mortality at the age of 62, examining its links to retirement, early Social Security, and the challenges facing men entering this significant life transition. Drawing on new research analyzed by academics from Cornell University and the University of Melbourne, host JR Whalen and news editor Demetria Gallegos break down the findings, implications, and practical recommendations for those approaching retirement age.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Surprising Mortality Spike at Age 62

• Research Findings:
  • A Cornell and University of Melbourne study found a significant, unexplained increase in male deaths within the year after men turn 62.
  • Over 34 years, this accounts for 13,000–27,000 excess deaths—almost 2 in every 100 men suddenly dying at that age.
    • Quote (Gallegos, 01:10):

      “There is a real jump that couldn't be explained by any other criteria right around age 62... that’s something like two out of every 100 men are suddenly dead.”

2. Connection to Retirement and Social Security

• Social Security and Retirement Trends:
  • Approximately one-third of Americans take Social Security at 62, and 10% of men retire at that age.
  • The researchers believe the risk of death is significantly higher for men who retire early, suggesting the 2% figure might understate the true risk in this cohort.
    • Quote (Gallegos, 02:06):

      “The researchers believe that the 2% rate is more like a 20% rate and that is very much focused on the men who take this early retirement.”

3. Causes of Death at Age 62

• Lifestyle Changes and Health Factors:
  • Key contributors include health shocks, lifestyle shifts, and possibly riskier behaviors after retirement:
    • Increased leisure/driving leading to more accident risk
    • Increased smoking or unhealthy habits
    • Pre-existing poor health, especially among those in manual labor jobs
    • Stress and lack of structure post-retirement
    • Quote (Gallegos, 02:32):

      “You may be driving more so you may be more likely to die in a car accident. You may start smoking more... Then you may simply be stressed ... [or] have had manual labor jobs and so their health is at greater risk at that point anyway.”

4. Short-Term Vs. Long-Term Effects of Retirement

• Negative Short-Term Impact:
  • The study focused on the short-term detrimental effects: mortality risk increases upon retirement.
• Potential Long-Term Benefits:
  • Other research shows psychological and happiness benefits can emerge in later years if retirees adapt well.
    • Quote (Gallegos, 03:18):

      “Long-term benefits of retirement may be very positive ... as people are retiring and their disposition changes, their happiness quotient is higher and so their lifespan can be extended.”

5. Practical Recommendations for Those Nearing Retirement

• Health Vigilance:
  • See a physician and actively manage/prevent health issues before and after retirement.
  • Stay active, but avoid overextending.
  • Remain mindful of risky behaviors (e.g., driving, substance use).
    • Quote (Gallegos, 04:05):

      “If you are 62 and considering retiring early and your health is poor to start with, you might want to be taking some preventive measures.”

6. Policy Implications: Adjusting Social Security Eligibility?

• Complex Debate:
  • Raising Social Security eligibility might push some to work longer (potentially healthier), but many early retirees have legitimate health or job breakdowns.
  • No clear answer on whether delaying eligibility would benefit the population.
    • Quote (Gallegos, 04:32):

      “...many of those people retiring at 62, as we mentioned, are in compromised health or do have jobs that can no longer be sustainably done as one gets older.”

7. The Bottom Line: Awareness and Preparation

• Key Takeaway:
  • Be aware of the heightened risks at age 62, especially for men, and plan accordingly—financially, medically, and psychologically.
    • Quote (Whalen, 05:02):

      “It’s good to realize that that 62-year-old mile marker is coming and prepare yourself so that at least you can be ready as your body changes, your lifestyle changes, and it can bring on more risk in your life.”

    • Gallegos:

      “Exactly.” (05:16)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There is a real jump that couldn’t be explained by any other criteria right around age 62.”
  — Demetria Gallegos (01:10)

• “The researchers believe that the 2% rate is more like a 20% rate and that is very much focused on the men who take this early retirement.”
  — Demetria Gallegos (02:06)

• “These people who choose to retire at age 62 may have been in compromised health to start with or they may have had manual labor jobs and so therefore their health is at greater risk at that point anyway.”
  — Demetria Gallegos (02:32)

• “What these researchers did was focus on the short-term negative correlations between retirement and mortality.”
  — Demetria Gallegos (03:18)

• “If you are 62 and considering retiring early and your health is poor to start with, you might want to be taking some preventive measures.”
  — Demetria Gallegos (04:05)

• “...there are people who are benefiting from the early retirement and it’s impossible right now to separate them from those who are at greater risk because of their retirement and Social Security options.”
  — Demetria Gallegos (04:32)

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Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:41 | JR Whalen introduces Demetria Gallegos and sets the episode theme | | 01:10 | Gallegos explains the mortality spike at age 62 | | 02:06 | Social Security early retirement and increased mortality | | 02:32 | Discussion of potential causes of death at age 62 | | 03:18 | Long-term vs short-term retirement effects | | 04:05 | Health recommendations for would-be retirees | | 04:32 | Should Social Security eligibility be delayed? | | 05:02 | Final advice: preparing for age 62 risks |

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Conclusion

This episode provides vital context and actionable insights about male mortality at age 62, urging listeners—and especially men approaching this age—to be cautious and proactive as they transition into retirement. The discussion balances the sobering mortality statistics with practical recommendations and emphasizes the importance of both personal preparation and nuanced policy considerations.

Transcript

[Small Business Owner]

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[Retail Industry Representative]

Inflation is killing me, but who cares? Big retailers are making record profits. That's why we support the Durbin Marshall credit card bill.

[Small Business Owner]

See banks and credit unions help small businesses make payroll. This bill would cut the vital resources

[Retail Industry Representative]

they need while increasing megastore profits. They deserve it, don't they?

[Consumer Advocacy Group Representative]

Tell Congress, stop the Durbin Marshall money grab for corporate megastores paid for by the Electronic Payments Coalition.

[Demetria Gallegos]

This is yous Money Matters from the Wall Street Journal.

[JR Whalen]

Welcome to youo Money Matters. I'm JR Whalen in New York. Some troubling news for Americans approaching retirement age. You should add questions about your mortality to the list of things you shore up as you enter post work life. A new study has identified a significant increase in mortality starting at age 62, and Wall Street Journal news editor Demetria Gallegos joins us with details. So, Demetria, this is rather daunting. Workers have completed decades of work and family life, and now they're faced with death.

[Demetria Gallegos]

Yes, it is a striking juxtaposition that you wouldn't necessarily anticipate in that transition. I spoke to a researcher at Cornell University who worked with one at the University of Melbourne to analyze US Mortality data, and they discovered that in addition to the rising rate of mortality as everyone gets older, there is a real jump, couldn't be explained by any other criteria right around age 62. And that jump basically added up to over the 34 years they studied. It added up to between 13,000 and 27,000 excess deaths. These are male deaths within 12 months of turning 62. So that's something like two out of every 100 men are suddenly dead. And it has to do with the age and the things that are happening right around that age.

[JR Whalen]

And I suppose that they expect deaths to occur during this time, but they were really taken by the number of deaths that they were seeing.

[Demetria Gallegos]

What we learned in studying this research is that about one third of Americans take Social Security early at age 62, and about 10% of men retire from the workforce. The researchers believe that the 2% rate is more like a 20% rate and that is very much focused on the men who take this early retirement. So that risk is much higher than the numbers would otherwise have indicated.

[JR Whalen]

So what are people dying of at this age?

[Demetria Gallegos]

At this age, so many things are in flux. Your leisure time quotient changes. Your health care may change. Your finances may change. What you are doing with your free time may change. You may be driving more so you may be more likely to die in a car accident. You may start smoking more, which would lead to COPD or lung cancer deaths, which is a typical cause of death. Then you may simply be stressed. And one of the most important factors to remember is that people who choose to retire at age 62 may have been in compromised health to start with or they may have had manual labor jobs and so therefore their health is at greater risk at that point anyway.

[JR Whalen]

You know, retirement can be great, but this study really shows and focused on the detrimental effects, the detrimental short term effects of retirement.

[Demetria Gallegos]

Yes. The researchers were aware of other literature that indicates that long term benefits of retirement may be very positive because of psychological reasons. And as people are retiring and their disposition changes, their happiness quotient is higher and so their lifespan can be extended. There are also indicators that retirement could be more difficult for individuals who find that they're no longer as engaged with the world or are more likely to become depressed. What these researchers did was focus on the short term negative correlations between retirement and mortality.

[JR Whalen]

We're speaking with news editor Demetria Gallegos and you're listening to youo Money Matters from the Wall Street Journal. Welcome back, everybody. So Demetria, the study's co author, says this data shows Americans should be much more in tune with their health as they approach retirement.

[Demetria Gallegos]

The recommendations are that if you are 62 and you're considering retiring early and your health is poor to start with, you might want to be taking some preventive measures. You might want to try to stay healthy, see a physician. You know, don't sit on the couch. But then don't overdo it either. You know, just be careful about driving, be careful about indulging too much. It is just a really tricky and treacherous time.

[JR Whalen]

And you asked the study's co author if the mortality data suggested suggests that Social Security eligibility should be pushed later. What did she tell you?

[Demetria Gallegos]

Well, she said it is a tricky question. She said, coupled with some of the fiscal problems in the Social Security system, it might be useful to think about whether it's worthwhile to encourage people to work beyond age 62. But she said many of those people retiring at 62, as we mentioned, are in compromised health or do have jobs that can no longer be sustainably done as one gets older. So there are people who are benefiting from the early retirement and it's impossible right now to separate them from those who are at greater risk because of their retirement and Social Security options.

[JR Whalen]

So for people out there, it's good to realize that that 62 year old mile marker is coming and prepare yourself so that at least you can be ready for as your body changes, your lifestyle changes and it can bring on more risk in your life.

[Demetria Gallegos]

Exactly.

[JR Whalen]

All right. That's the Wall Street Journal's Demetria Gallegos joining us here in our studio. Demetria, thanks for being with us.

[Demetria Gallegos]

Thank you, JR and thank you for

[JR Whalen]

listening to your Money matters. I'm JR or Whalen in New York for the Wall Street Journal.

[Small Business Owner]

Access to affordable credit helps me pay my employees, but I don't really need it.

[Retail Industry Representative]

Infliction is killing me, but who cares? Big retailers are making record profits. That's why we support the Durbin Marshall credit card bill.

[Small Business Owner]

See, banks and credit unions help small businesses make payroll. This bill would cut the vital resources

[Retail Industry Representative]

they need while increasing megastore profits. They deserve it, don't they?

[Consumer Advocacy Group Representative]

Tell Congress stop the Durbin Marshall money grab for corporate megastores paid for by the Electronic Payments Coalition.