Why are major diseases on the decline? Check out this interesting NY Times article. A reduction of colon cancer rates, fewer elderly folks having hip fractures and lower dementia rates just to name a few of the problems that appear to be in decline according to the NY Times. The interesting thing is, there is not one reason (s) that scientists can pinpoint to suggest why. Are we eating better? Do we exercise more than we did 50 years ago, or is it because we are larger and heavier? Nobody knows for sure except that more people than ever are living longer and suffer from fewer diseases. My fathers father who I never met succumbed to a heart attack at 49 years old and my grandpa Sam died of heart problems in his early 60's. Today, that is no longer a common occurrence due to healthier diets, better level of activity, better diets and maybe some other reasons that are not understood. Check out this interesting article from the NY Times A Medical Mystery of the Best Kind: Major Diseases Are in Decline Gina Kolata JULY 8, 2016 Something strange is going on in medicine. Major diseases, like colon cancer, dementia and heart disease, are waning in wealthy countries, and improved diagnosis and treatment cannot fully explain it. Scientists marvel at this good news, a medical mystery of the best sort and one that is often overlooked as advocacy groups emphasize the toll of diseases and the need for more funds. Still, many are puzzled. "œIt is really easy to come up with interesting, compelling explanations," said Dr. David S. Jones, a Harvard historian of medicine. "œThe challenge is to figure out which of those interesting and compelling hypotheses might be correct." Of course, these diseases are far from gone. They still cause enormous suffering and kill millions each year. Read more