How moving affects death rates for middle-aged adults
Migration and Geographic Variation in Mid-Life Mortality
This project explores whether people moving within the U.S. or into the U.S. have changed death rates for adults aged 25–64.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247517 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you're a middle-aged adult, researchers will analyze U.S. death records linked to census microdata to see how domestic and international migration reshape local death rates. They will compare patterns across U.S. regions and with other high-income countries to understand broader trends. The team will examine direct effects (whether healthier people move to certain areas) and indirect effects (how migration changes community conditions that influence non-migrant health). The analyses focus on adults aged 25–64 and cover trends since about 2010.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 25–64, particularly those who have moved between counties, states, or countries, are the population this research focuses on.
Not a fit: People younger than 25 or older than 64, or those whose conditions are driven primarily by individual genetic disorders rather than place-based factors, may not directly benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help target local policies and health programs to reduce preventable deaths among middle-aged adults.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has linked unemployment, substance use, smoking, education, and health-care access to regional mortality differences, but applying migration as an explanation for rising mid-life mortality is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
University Park, United States
- Pennsylvania State University, the — University Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ho, Jessica Yu — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Ho, Jessica Yu
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.