Research shows that creativity can affect life expectancy. Research on veterans showed that those who demonstrated higher levels of creativity had decreased their mortality risk by 12%. Neurologists believe that creativity stimulates several areas of the brain, encouraging its functioning even into old age. Experts also suggest that creative people might be able to better manage their stress levels, lowering their risk of developing stress-related illnesses.
More about life expectancy:
The number of people in developed nations who live to be at least 100 years old is increasing by 5.5% per year.
Serious mental illness contributes to lower life expectancy, with some studies showing that sufferers can have a life expectancy that is 15-30 years less than the average. Some experts believe that the strong association between conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia and heart disease contributes to the reduced lifespan of mentally ill people.
The mortality rate for women and girls is lower than that of males regardless of age. Even in the womb, female fetuses are less likely to die than males.