Life expectancy of women has fallen to 75 years or younger, which is lower than previous years, a trend that experts can’t explain. The latest research found women are dying at higher rates than previous years in nearly half of the counties in the rural South and West. Curiously, for men, life expectancy has held steady or improved in nearly all countries.

The study is the latest to spot this pattern, especially among disadvantaged white women.

Higher smoking rates, obesity and less education, are seen as some reasons but not sure.

Studies have only recently begun to spotlight the phenomenon of some women losing ground, though it may have begun in the 80s.