All-cause mortality refers to the total number of deaths in a specific population over a defined period, irrespective of the causes. This statistic is a comprehensive measure used to track mortality rates across different groups, regions, and timeframes. In scientific research, it’s often utilized as a key indicator to assess the overall health of populations, the impact of various risk factors, and the effectiveness of interventions.

While specific causes of death—such as heart disease, cancer, or accidents—can offer insights into targeted risk factors, all-cause mortality gives a broader picture by encompassing every death. This makes it an ideal metric for understanding the combined effects of various health factors, lifestyle behaviors, and environmental conditions. Researchers use it to evaluate the real-world impact of interventions that claim to improve health and longevity.

Why does all-cause mortality matter?

All-cause mortality is critical for several reasons:

1. Holistic health measure

It considers the entirety of an individual's risk factors. This is important because many health interventions may impact more than one area of a person’s health. For example, a drug might reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease but increase the risk of cancer. By focusing on all-cause mortality, researchers can assess whether an intervention truly improves overall survival.

2. Unbiased assessment

Since it doesn’t focus on one specific cause of death, all-cause mortality reduces bias in research. This is especially valuable when studying the long-term effects of behaviors, supplements, or medicines. It helps avoid misleading results where an intervention seems beneficial for one condition but may have harmful side effects elsewhere.

3. Validation of health interventions

The use of all-cause mortality provides a concrete, measurable outcome. If a health behavior, medication, or lifestyle change lowers the rate of all-cause mortality, it strongly suggests that the intervention has a positive effect on overall well-being and life expectancy.

4. Predictor of population health

By examining the overall mortality rates, researchers can identify trends and patterns that indicate broader health issues within a population. For instance, rising all-cause mortality rates could signal public health crises or emerging risk factors, while declining rates may suggest improvements in healthcare, lifestyles, or social conditions.

Why it is the most advanced and progressive approach in research?

All-cause mortality is considered one of the most advanced metrics for validating scientific research due to its comprehensive nature. Here’s why:

1. Reduction of confounding factors

When assessing the effectiveness of an intervention based on disease-specific outcomes (like only tracking cancer-related deaths), there’s a higher chance of missing out on other potential negative effects. By using all-cause mortality, researchers capture the overall impact, including unintended consequences.

2. Longitudinal power

Long-term studies that focus on all-cause mortality offer the strongest evidence of an intervention’s effect on human health. They look beyond short-term benefits and delve into how behaviors or treatments influence the full lifespan of individuals.

3. Robustness in data

In modern health research, reducing uncertainty and bias is essential. All-cause mortality is a hard endpoint that is not subject to misclassification or subjective interpretation, unlike outcomes such as "quality of life" or disease severity, which may vary based on individual perception.

4. Universal applicability

This metric transcends diseases, conditions, and interventions. Whether studying the impact of dietary supplements, exercise, medication, or even environmental changes, all-cause mortality serves as a gold standard. It allows different types of research to be compared on a level playing field, making it an invaluable tool for scientists and health professionals.

Why all-cause mortality is the best way to estimate predictive factors of life expectancy?

When trying to predict life expectancy, all-cause mortality offers the most reliable data for several reasons:

1. Comprehensive evaluation of risk factors

It considers the cumulative impact of all factors—genetic, lifestyle, environmental, and medical—on survival. This makes it easier to identify which behaviors or interventions have a meaningful impact on longevity.

2. Single end-point of success

Life expectancy is ultimately about how long someone lives. All-cause mortality directly relates to this endpoint, providing a clear picture of whether interventions or behaviors contribute to a longer life.

3. Elimination of bias

Relying on disease-specific outcomes can sometimes introduce bias because different causes of death can dominate in different populations or age groups. All-cause mortality eliminates this problem by providing a single, unified endpoint that applies universally.

4. Multifactorial analysis

Life expectancy is influenced by a wide range of factors—diet, exercise, medications, environment, etc. All-cause mortality allows researchers to understand how these various factors interact, making it easier to pinpoint the most significant predictors of a longer life.

Validating what works: behaviors, supplements, medicines, and more.

The most critical advantage of all-cause mortality as a research criterion is its ability to validate what truly works for improving health and longevity. For interventions to be trusted and widely adopted, they must pass this rigorous test. Here’s why all-cause mortality serves as the strongest criteria:

1. Objective outcome

Death is an unambiguous outcome. If an intervention reduces all-cause mortality, it clearly works. This makes it an incredibly reliable way to test the efficacy of health behaviors, supplements, medications, and other interventions.

2. Global impact

All-cause mortality studies often reveal trends that are applicable on a global scale. If a certain lifestyle change or medical treatment significantly reduces mortality rates across different populations, it can be reasonably assumed that this intervention is effective universally, not just in specific groups.

3. Scientific rigor

Studies that rely on all-cause mortality are held to the highest scientific standards. They often involve large populations, long follow-up periods, and strict controls to eliminate bias. This ensures that their conclusions are based on solid evidence.

4. Real-world effectiveness

Many interventions that seem promising in small, controlled settings often fail to show real-world benefits. All-cause mortality focuses on real-world outcomes, making it a more practical and reliable measure for determining whether an intervention truly improves health and extends life.

Conclusion

In the field of longevity and health research, all-cause mortality is an indispensable metric. It offers a comprehensive, unbiased, and scientifically rigorous way to assess the effectiveness of various factors—whether they be lifestyle changes, medications, or supplements. For anyone serious about extending life expectancy and improving overall health, relying on research that demonstrates an impact on all-cause mortality is essential.

As we develop longevity tests and predictive tools, we prioritize using only validated research based on all-cause mortality. This ensures that our recommendations are not only evidence-based but are proven to have a real, measurable effect on life expectancy.

You probably expected to see the usual advice here: get good sleep, sign up for a gym, and eat healthily, right?

While these are indeed the correct answers, changing our daily habits and routines can be incredibly challenging. Instead, let's focus on a few easy wins that you can implement instantly without effort and gain many healthy years in return.

1. Reduce LDL cholesterol

The number one cause of death globally is CVD (cardiovascular disease) is responsible for about 32% of all deaths each year, making it the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Medication can reduce your LDL below 130 mg/dL (3.4 mmol/L in Europe), significantly lowering all-cause mortality, gaining up to 5-7 years. Consult with your doctor about what’s right for you.

2. Control diabetes

High blood sugar levels are a key predictor of diabetes, a disease that reduces life expectancy by up to 5 years. The HbA1c test measures your average blood sugar levels over the past three months and is one of the most reliable indicators of diabetes risk and all-cause mortality. Ask your doctor about medications to stabilize blood sugar (HbA1c) below 5.9%. Research shows a direct and robust negative correlation between all-cause mortality and diabetes markers.

3. Lower blood pressure

If your blood pressure at rest is above 120/80 throughout the entire month's measurements average, consult your doctor about whether you can start medication to keep it down. High blood pressure is a killer. Watch this out. The good news? It can be managed with a pill; no effort is required. Potential gain of up to 5 years.

• Up to 10 years of good life can be earned across one, two, and three of combined above.
• These markers matter—don’t wait. Start the conversation with your doctor and take action sooner, not later.
• Usually you can starting with the magic pills, no sweat is required.

4. Always fasten your seat belt

Always! Car accidents don’t happen often, but when they do, they can be devastating. Therefore, wear your seat belt—this simple action could add 4 years to your life expectancy.

5. Quit smoking

It’s just a matter of decision. Do you really want to give up 5–11 years of life for that cigarette?

6. Replace meetings “over coffee” with walking meetings instead

No need for a gym—start with a leisure walk during calls, meetings, or YouTube time.

7. Stop over-supplementation

Often, less is more. Some biomarkers, like vitamin B12, have a negative all-cause mortality effect when above recommended levels. If your blood work exceeds the recommended range (400-600ng/ml), it's better to stop supplementation.

8. Start right supplementation

Before you continue reading, get your blood work first to check for deficiencies.

The following nutrients positively correlate with all-cause mortality outcomes: Omega-3, Taurine, DHEA (men only), and Vitamin B6.

9. Strong social connections
Strong social relationships can increase your lifespan by up to 30%. Isolation, on the other hand, raises the risk of premature death by the same margin as smoking (minus 5-10 years).

The longest and highest quality longevity research in history is the Harvard Study of Adult Development. It has followed 724 men for over 80 years and concluded that the quality of close relationships is a better predictor of happiness and longevity than anything else. As study director Robert Waldinger stated, "Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period."

10. Have fun, be playful, and give your best smile 😃

These swift actions will boost your longevity with zero effort. It's as simple as that. Start today! Give them a try, and watch your age score improve!

Understanding why people die can help us take steps to prevent or delay many of these deaths. Here’s a global snapshot of the main causes of death, expressed in percentages for better clarity.

1. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) – 74% of Deaths

The majority of deaths—74%—are caused by non-communicable diseases. These conditions are often linked to lifestyle and long-term health habits.

• Heart Diseases: Responsible for 33% of deaths, making it the leading cause globally.
• Cancers: Account for nearly 19% of all deaths, the second most common cause.
• Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Contribute to around 8% of deaths.

Together, these conditions cause nearly 3 out of 4 deaths worldwide.

2. Infectious Diseases – 14% of Deaths

Infectious diseases are still a significant issue, particularly in low-resource settings. They account for 14% of all global deaths.

Key contributors include:

• Pneumonia, Diarrheal Diseases, Tuberculosis
• HIV/AIDS and Malaria

3. Neonatal and Maternal Deaths – 4% of Deaths

Complications during childbirth and early infancy result in 4% of all deaths globally. These deaths are often preventable with better access to healthcare and nutrition.

4. Accidents and Injuries – 4% of Deaths

Unintentional injuries, including car accidents, falls, and workplace incidents, cause 4% of deaths worldwide, emphasizing the need for safety measures.

5. Violent Deaths – 2.3% of Deaths

• Suicide: Accounts for 1.3%, highlighting the urgent need for better mental health support.
• Interpersonal Violence (Homicides and Wars): Responsible for less than 1% of deaths globally.

Most Deaths Can Be Prevented or Postponed

While death is inevitable, many of the leading causes of death—especially non-communicable diseases and infectious diseases—can be prevented or delayed with the right actions. We highly recommend your to start with reading Top 10 tips to improve your age score

Most deaths are not just statistics—they are opportunities for change.

[Online Resource]: Saloni Dattani, Fiona Spooner, Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser (2023) - “Causes of Death” Published online at OurWorldinData.org.

Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/causes-of-death'