Left of Center

A study comparing the death and accident rates of left- and right-handed people has illustrated a surprising disparity in life expectancies. The study, conducted last year by psychology professor Diane Halpern of California State University at San Bernardino and researcher Stanley Coren from the University of British Columbia, endeavored to determine why fewer left-handed people are among the elderly population.

The researchers studied the death certificates of 987 people in two Southern California counties, corresponding with relatives to ascertain the subjects' dominant hands. They found that the average age at death for right-handed people was 75 years, while their left-handed counterparts averaged a mere 66 by comparison.

"The results are striking in their magnitude." said Halpern. "We knew for years that there weren't as many old left-handers. Researchers thought that was because in the early years of the century, most people born left-handed were forced to change to their right hands. The truth was that there simply weren't as many left-handers left alive, compared to right-handers."

According to the study, left-handed people were four times more likely to die from injuries while driving than right-handers and six times more likely to die from accidents of all kinds.

Interestingly, the gap between life expectancies of right- and left-handed people was more prominent in males than females. While left-handed women died an average of six years earlier than their right-handed counterparts at the age of 72, left-handed men died an average of 11 years earlier than right-handed men at the age of 62.

Halpern attributes these significant differences in statistics to the right-hand dominated world in which we all live in. In fact, they may reflect a previously unknown difference in the way left- and right-handed people interact with the world around them. "Almost all engineering is geared to the right hand and right foot," she said. "There are many more car and other accidents among left-handers because of their environment."

Although the results could potentially be disheartening for left-handers everywhere, Halpern suggests that it is important not to change which hand a child uses. "There are many, many old left-handed people," she said.

Despite what appear to be odds stacked against them, old lefties are out there, occasionally smearing ink on their palm as their left hand scribbles out their memoirs.

Visual presentation: A graphic could include some of the statistics presented in the article. A pull quote could also be considered, perhaps of Halpern's assertion that "The results are striking in their magnitude."