George H.W. Bush Died 8 Months After His Wife of 73 Years. Doctors Explain Why That's So Common

George H.W. Bush died in his Houston home on Nov. 30, less than eight months after his wife of 73 years, Barbara. He was 94.

While Bush's cause of death was not immediately known, a range of factors can cause spouses to die around the same time. A 2013 study published in the Journals of Gerontology found that the death of a spouse raises a person's risk of dying by around 30%, compared to those who are still married. Some estimates are even higher.