January 27, 2026
Black Americans are dying at younger ages than their white counterparts, and it is estimated that there were 1.63 million “excess” deaths between 1999 and 2020.
These excess deaths are largely due to chronic diseases such as heart disease or cancer.
In a study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers from Washington University in St. Louis found that the higher risk of death among black Americans was largely due to increased exposure to stress throughout their lives, as well as inflammation later in life.
Stress shortens life
The study, led by Isaiah Spears, a graduate student at the University of Washington, showed that the increased exposure to stress that Black Americans face over the course of their lives is linked to increased inflammation, and that these factors explain nearly half of the higher risk of death among Black Americans compared to white Americans in their study.
Stress is thought to shorten lifespan by causing immune system dysfunction and inflammation. The concept of adaptive load, or body exhaustion, suggests that chronic stress can unbalance the body’s systems, leading to disturbed recovery and response, as well as premature aging.
According to the researchers: “If stress becomes chronic, the body’s homeostasis may be affected, the person may become less able to adapt his or her biological systems to respond to acute stress challenges, and may become less able to return to a physical state that promotes regeneration and restoration.”
While Spears said:
- “Over time, chronic and continuous exposure to psychological stress leads to malfunctions and premature collapse of some biological systems in the human body.”
- “Excessive stress leads to premature aging and increased risk of disease, all of which are common problems among African Americans.”
- “The high level of exposure to stress and racism seen among African Americans likely stems from social structures in which disadvantages have been accumulated against them across generations.”
