How does mortality data account for age? Given heart disease, cancer, and respiratory diseases were the top three causes of death in 2010, if in 2060 the average life span were 10 years longer, isn't it likely that these three things would still be the leading cause of death? The geographic distribution is interesting, but it seems to me that to breaking it down by age group would be more informative.
On page 110 of the CDC's PDF the formula for computing age-adjustment is discussed. You'll also find the original data there where you can look column-by-column and see the impact that adjustment has for various states and cases.
