Dementia is an area that researchers haven't studied enough. Currently, there are 24 million people all around the world suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, and this number continues to grow everyday. This number is expected to triple, approximately by 81 million come 2040.
Studies involving 13,000 people over the age of 65 years were conducted between the years 1991 and 2005 to enable doctors understand dementia and how long patients could live with it. During this period, 438 people developed AD or other forms of dementia. Then, 81% of those who developed dementia died before the study was completed.
The condition is caused by various situations like diseases that result to nerve cells degeneration like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. It is also associated to health condition that attack blood cells like stroke leading to multiple infarction dementia. At times, it can be due to excessive drug use and alcohol or nutritional deficiencies, specifically in folate and Vitamin B12.
Women lived for about 4.6 years after being diagnosed of dementia. On the other hand, men lived for only 4.1 years. Furthermore, people under 70 years of age lived for 10.7 years on average compared to those who were over 90 years of age and lived only for 3.8 years before they died. And patients who were frail at the time of diagnosis didn't live any longer than 3 years. The study concluded that the average life expectancy of a person who was diagnosed with AD or dementia was 4.5 years.
65 years old and below can expect to live 18 years longer after getting diagnosed with dementia. However, the study didn't look into what causes this shorter than normal life expectancy. In those who were 90 years and above, the shorter life expectancy was due to the fact that they were already advanced in age.
As for the younger population, the loss of life expectancy could be attributed to the fact that they changed their lifestyle due to the effects of dementia. They could not exercise or eat well anymore. However, that alone doesn't explain everything. In a nutshell, the research tells us how long these individuals can live on average, but we don't actually know why.
Even though patients can't change factors such as age or their gender after they get diagnosed with dementia, the study suggests that the level of care given to a person can significantly extend their life expectancy. People who take care of loved ones diagnosed with dementia must design a care plan and take advantage of any support groups and other resources available.
Studies support the use of puzzles as well as other forms of mental fitness exercises to help prevent or delay dementia. Individuals who engage their mental beings with exercises can significantly delay the development of dementia.
Overall, the dementia life expectancy is really not predictable as with other diseases. It can progress for around decades and may shorten life especially at the later stages along with other health disorders like pneumonia. Understanding the stages and its progression and taking care of other needs is a must for people with dementia.
Studies involving 13,000 people over the age of 65 years were conducted between the years 1991 and 2005 to enable doctors understand dementia and how long patients could live with it. During this period, 438 people developed AD or other forms of dementia. Then, 81% of those who developed dementia died before the study was completed.
The condition is caused by various situations like diseases that result to nerve cells degeneration like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. It is also associated to health condition that attack blood cells like stroke leading to multiple infarction dementia. At times, it can be due to excessive drug use and alcohol or nutritional deficiencies, specifically in folate and Vitamin B12.
Women lived for about 4.6 years after being diagnosed of dementia. On the other hand, men lived for only 4.1 years. Furthermore, people under 70 years of age lived for 10.7 years on average compared to those who were over 90 years of age and lived only for 3.8 years before they died. And patients who were frail at the time of diagnosis didn't live any longer than 3 years. The study concluded that the average life expectancy of a person who was diagnosed with AD or dementia was 4.5 years.
65 years old and below can expect to live 18 years longer after getting diagnosed with dementia. However, the study didn't look into what causes this shorter than normal life expectancy. In those who were 90 years and above, the shorter life expectancy was due to the fact that they were already advanced in age.
As for the younger population, the loss of life expectancy could be attributed to the fact that they changed their lifestyle due to the effects of dementia. They could not exercise or eat well anymore. However, that alone doesn't explain everything. In a nutshell, the research tells us how long these individuals can live on average, but we don't actually know why.
Even though patients can't change factors such as age or their gender after they get diagnosed with dementia, the study suggests that the level of care given to a person can significantly extend their life expectancy. People who take care of loved ones diagnosed with dementia must design a care plan and take advantage of any support groups and other resources available.
Studies support the use of puzzles as well as other forms of mental fitness exercises to help prevent or delay dementia. Individuals who engage their mental beings with exercises can significantly delay the development of dementia.
Overall, the dementia life expectancy is really not predictable as with other diseases. It can progress for around decades and may shorten life especially at the later stages along with other health disorders like pneumonia. Understanding the stages and its progression and taking care of other needs is a must for people with dementia.
About the Author:
There is a lot of information to learn when it comes to the different dementia stages. An excellent starting point for Dementia Life Expectancy, would be to visit the following website at http://stagesofdementia.org.