I think it's a combination of things... Gen-X was the start of the real decline in marriage rates, which tends to really affect people later in life in terms of fulfillment (related to having children), so now that we're well into middle-age, it's starting to show.

This combined with lower upward mobility in terms of average income, and higher debt to income ratios... combined with rapidly increased prices of essential goods, especially relative to income it's gotten hard.

I'm 51 now... in the past couple years, I've had to come to grips with some health issues I never considered (deteriorating vision) combined with a few periods of prolonged unemployment (only a bit of contract/project work)... with the medical bills what they are, I'm maxed out, I took a 40% pay cut for my current job, and literally every job I get contacted from recruiters for is largely well below my income the past few years, even below my current contract job.

I don't really have memory issues and have managed to stay current with the technology in my field... but it's been a consistent stress for several years now. Depression and anger tend to go hand in hand with this. I keep getting up and working though.

Im middle aged and look forward to a bright future. Because a) its bad to give up. What if stuff turns out well? You still lose. So i plan for good things to happen.

But b) is bigger. Energy is getting cheaper and renewable. Even if we just continue at current scale in 10 to 20 years most of energy needed to power work to shelter and feed me will be pennies. I understand that the scarcity mindset takes longer to die. People are so used to fight over oil for the economy and lifestyle it spills in all of our daily thinking.

If it's any consolation for the Gen X folks out there, those of us that are younger are also "feeling the pressure". It sucks.

I can speak to the chronic stress.

Due to a series of unfortunate and unexpected issues with beings in my inner circle, the last few months have been a constant stream of stress.

And the mental impact has certainly been noticeable, especially on my focus, concentration and short term memory.

Interesting framing of the data.

Doesn't help just about everyone I thought was cool revealed themselves to be absolute garbage over the past decade.