Americans Who Move Away From Birth States May Stay Healthier In Later Life

A new study suggests that Americans who move to another state may enjoy better health as they age. Researchers reported in the Journal of Ethnic and Minority Studies that older adults who stayed in their birth state had up to 22% higher odds of disability than those who moved. Lead researcher Katherine Ahlin of the University of Toronto said the study analyzed 10 years of data from 5.4 million older adults. Education explained part of the difference, but not all, said researcher Alyssa McAlpine. Immigrants from abroad showed even lower disability rates—7% to 33% less than internal migrants. Senior researcher Esme Fuller-Thomson said this pattern may reflect the challenges of migration, which only healthier individuals are likely to overcome. (Story URL)