They don't seem to live as long as others. Has anyone else noticed this?

No, I haven't. But then again, I haven't really paid attention to it. I guess I will have to now.

Not at all ... in fact, I've found them to live a long and fruitful life, in fact, most of them have a full life meter most of the time ... they KNOW how to balance the work and relaxation situation of life

As the villagers get older, and it gets harder and harder to continually go fishing, or be always at the research table, and they get slower, sometimes the "stress" brings down their health meter. I found that if I just focus them with checking off the healing bar, even if I don't train them to inspect the flowers, etc., that they will start relaxing, and their health meters will go up in more than 80% of the time without any further intervention. My oldest villager was 97, and I believe it was a doctor who made it there.

Wow. I never get them over 76 and I check the bars. The only time I ever found anyone with a low bar are the researchers. I'm beginning to think research is dangerous.

Stress can do it every time ... and as in real life, if they don't really like what they are doing, they get STRESSED and the meter goes down!!! In our wanting to get more and more tech points, especially at the beginning, I can't speak for everyone, but I tended to be a slave master cracking the whip. EVERYONE ON THE RESEARCH TABLE THAT ISN'T FISHING!! CCCRRRAAACK!!! Then you start to see the subtleties of the game, the interactions, etc. and realize ... oops ... not good ... a more productive tribe, one that thrives, is a happy and well balanced tribe.

I never actually got to SEE the villager that reached 95, but the stats prove otherwise ... must have reached it while I was away. Usually, my oldest WHILE I AM ACTIVELY PLAYING is 76-80.

Both the researchers and builders can have accidents which will lower their health bars. If you look through the log file you'll often see an entry like: