Native American life expectancy rising

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Life expectancy for American Indians is decades longer than it was in the 1960s, nearly closing the gap with the rest of the U.S. population, according to government data.

But that doesn't mean every Native American has seen the same gains, according to experts, who say pockets of problems remain, particularly on traditional reservations.

Melissa Buffalo, senior clinical research specialist at Sanford Health in South Dakota, said the life expectancy numbers for American Indians "varies across the region, just as it does for the U.S. in general."

Officially, life expectancy for...