Something strange is happening demographically-speaking

[cinyc]

The New York Times noticed the death rate uptick in the U.S.:
American death rate increases for first time in a decade (via Alaska Dispatch News)

The article blames the increase largely on drug overdoses, accidental deaths, and complications associated with Alzheimers disease.  The heart disease-related death rate was also up, but not by a statistically significant margin over the same time last quarter.