AI Overview

The average Amish life expectancy is around 70-75 years, which is similar to the overall U.S. average, though some communities have higher life expectancies. While historically the Amish had a significant life expectancy advantage, it has largely been closed with the increase in U.S. life expectancy, with many advantages now being attributed to factors like high physical activity, low tobacco use, and strong social support systems. However, certain Amish communities have a genetic mutation that can increase lifespan to around 85 years.

Historical advantage: In the past, the Amish had a significant life expectancy advantage, with life spans already exceeding 70 years in the early 1900s when the national average was much lower.

Current average:

Recent studies show the average life expectancy is now around 70-75 years, which is similar to the U.S. average of around 79 years. Some studies show the average is around 78-80 years. Factors contributing to health:

Physical activity: The agrarian lifestyle involves hard physical labor, which contributes to lower rates of obesity and diabetes.

Low tobacco use: The Amish community has minimal tobacco use, which reduces the risk of cancer and other diseases.

Strong community support: The strong family and community bonds often result in better support networks, which has been shown to have health benefits similar to quitting smoking.

G

enetic factors:

Some Amish communities have a genetic mutation in the SERPINE1 gene that can increase life expectancy to around 85 years and offers protection against diseases like diabetes.

This mutation is not present in all Amish communities and is specific to certain groups, often with Swiss ancestry.

Important distinction: It is a misconception that the Amish live longer due to avoiding modern medicine. They have high rates of childhood vaccination and seek modern medical care when necessary.

The Amish Health Care System : r/slatestarcodex - Reddit Apr 21, 2020 — The Amish have had a life expectancy in the low 70s since colonial times, when the rest of us were dying at 40 or 50. Reddit · r/slatestarcodex