Life expectancy rises for the educated; the less-educated reap n...

While life expectancy has increased significantly for educated people over the last twenty years, it has plateaued for less educated people.

In other words, those whose education level does not exceed high school have not been sharing the benefits of prolonged lifespan.

This is the case for both African Americans and Caucasians. Deaths related to tobacco use account for at least one-fifth of the growth in mortality differences by education that create this life expectancy gap.