India, June 21 -- As we grow older, birthdays can stir mixed emotions; should we celebrate another year of life, growth, and wisdom, or quietly reflect on the passage of time and our own mortality? This emotional tug-of-war is intensified by a phenomenon known as the birthday effect, a curious pattern suggesting that people are statistically more likely to die on or around their birthdays.

According to a 2012 study published on ScienceDirect, a 13.8 percent rise was observed in people above the age of 60 who died on their actual birthdays, compared to other days. Not just that - a 2015 study published on ScienceDirect noticed a 6.7 percent higher risk of dying on the birthday, than on other days.

A July 2024 article on BBC Science Focus...