Global Life Expectancy Is Up, U.N. Report Says

"Global life expectancy increased sharply from 47 years in 1950-55 to 68 years in 2005-2010, the U.N. has said in a report," the U.K. Press Association reports. According to the report, "people are living longer mainly because of improvements in nutrition and hygiene, and advances in vaccines and medical treatments against infectious and parasitic diseases that are 'communicable,'" the news service writes. A shift "from communicable to non-communicable diseases as the main cause of deaths has occurred in all regions of the world except sub-Saharan Africa, where the HIV/AIDS epidemic is widespread and infectious and parasitic diseases still claim many lives," the Press Association reports. The study will be a topic of discussion this week at the U.N. Commission on Population and Development meeting April 12-16, the Press Association adds (4/10).

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