At A Glance: The Top 5 Leading Causes Of Death In England And Wales In 2020
In 2020, the top five causes of death were:
- COVID-19
- Dementia and Alzheimers
- Ischaemic heart disease
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Lung-based cancers .
For deaths with a primary cause attributed to dementia, the 2020 figure shows a decrease in percentage from 12.5% in 2019 and 12.8% in 2018. This reduction has likely been impacted by coronavirus-related dementia deaths and a decreased diagnosis rate.
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How Do Dementia Patients Die
Because dementia is an incurable disease, there is one pertinent question that many ask and that is how do dementia patients die?
Before answering this question it is important to note that in many countries Alzheimers disease and other kinds of dementia have been documented as the leading cause of death in the country, especially for the older generation.
According to Alzheimers Research UK, deaths due to dementia doubled from 40,253 in 2007 to 87, 199 in 2017 and the trend does not appear to change anytime soon.
In America, dementia is the 6th leading cause of death and currently, millions of people are living with the disease.
World Health Organization estimates that the number of dementia deaths across the globe will increase by more than 40% from 2015 to 2030.
Medications To Treat The Underlying Alzheimer’s Disease Process
Aducanumab is the first disease-modifying therapy approved by the FDA to treat Alzheimers disease. The medication helps to reduce amyloid deposits in the brain and may help slow the progression of Alzheimers, although it has not yet been shown to affect clinical outcomes such as progression of cognitive decline or dementia. A doctor or specialist will likely perform tests, such as a PET scan or analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, to look for evidence of amyloid plaques and help decide if the treatment is right for the patient.
Aducanumab was approved through the FDAs Accelerated Approval Program. This process requires an additional study after approval to confirm the anticipated clinical benefit. If the follow-up trial fails to verify clinical benefit, the FDA may withdraw approval of the drug. Results of the phase 4 clinical trial for aducanumab are expected to be available by early 2030.
Several other disease-modifying medications are being tested in people with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimers as potential treatments.
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Why Do Dementia Patients Stop Talking
There are many signs that can tell you death is near for a dementia payment. Even though you may be prepared for the end, it is never easy. The ten signs that death is near include:
Medications To Maintain Mental Function In Alzheimer’s Disease
Several medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat symptoms of Alzheimers. Donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine are used to treat the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimers. Donepezil, memantine, the rivastigmine patch, and a combination medication of memantine and donepezil are used to treat moderate to severe Alzheimers symptoms. All of these drugs work by regulating neurotransmitters, the chemicals that transmit messages between neurons. They may help reduce symptoms and help with certain behavioral problems. However, these drugs dont change the underlying disease process. They are effective for some but not all people and may help only for a limited time.
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Get Dementia Care From The Top Home Care Providers In Phoenix Az
Do you have a family member or loved one suffering from dementia? Call and talk to one of our staff at Devoted Guardians. We are one of Arizonas largest home care providers with personnel trained in dementia care. We offer daily 24-hour living assistance, including nighttime watch, and personal care.
Differences Between Women And Men In The Prevalence And Risk Of Alzheimer’s And Other Dementias
More women than men have Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women., Of the 5.8 million people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s in the United States, 3.6 million are women and 2.2 million are men., Based on estimates from ADAMS, among people age 71 and older, 16% of women have Alzheimer’s or other dementias compared with 11% of men.
The prevailing reason that has been stated for the higher prevalence of Alzheimer’s and other dementias in women is that women live longer than men on average, and older age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s.- But when it comes to differences in the actual risk of developing Alzheimer’s or other dementias for men and women of the same age, findings have been mixed. Most studies of incidence in the United States have found no significant difference between men and women in the proportion who develop Alzheimer’s or other dementias at any given age., , – However, some European studies have reported a higher incidence among women at older ages,, and one study from the United Kingdom reported higher incidence for men. Differences in the risk of dementia between men and women may therefore depend on age and/or geographic region.,
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Trends In The Prevalence And Incidence Of Alzheimer’s Dementia Over Time
A growing number of studies indicate that the prevalence, – and incidence, , – of Alzheimer’s and other dementias in the United States and other higher-income Western countries may have declined in the past 25 years,, , – though results are mixed., , , These declines have been attributed to increasing levels of education and improved control of cardiovascular risk factors., , , , , Such findings are promising and suggest that identifying and reducing risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other dementias may be effective. Although these findings indicate that a person’s risk of dementia at any given age may be decreasing slightly, the total number of people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias in the United States and other high-income Western countries is expected to continue to increase dramatically because of the increase in the number of people at the oldest ages.
3.7.1 Looking to the future: Aging of the baby boom generation
- By 2025, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s dementia is projected to reach 7.1 million â almost a 22% increase from the 5.8 million age 65 and older affected in 2020.,
- By 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s dementia is projected to reach 13.8 million, barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent, slow or cure Alzheimer’s disease.,
FIGURE 5
The Start Of The Dying Process
As someones condition worsens and they get to within a few days or hours of dying, further changes are common. The person will often:
- deteriorate more quickly than before
- lose consciousness
- develop an irregular breathing pattern
- have cold hands and feet.
These changes are part of the dying process. Healthcare professionals can explain these changes so you understand what is happening. The person is often unaware of what is happening, and they should not be in pain or distress.
Medication can be used to treat the persons symptoms. If the person cant swallow, there are other ways of providing this, such as medication patches on the skin, small injections or syringe drivers . Speak to a GP or another health professional about this.
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Common Forms Of Dementia
There are many different forms of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form and may contribute to 6070% of cases. Other major forms include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies , and a group of diseases that contribute to frontotemporal dementia . The boundaries between different forms of dementia are indistinct and mixed forms often co-exist.
Figure : People Aged 95 Years And Over Had Statistically Significantly Higher Rates Than All Other Age Groups For Deaths Due To Dementia And Alzheimers Disease
Age-standardised and age-specific mortality rates for deaths due to dementia and Alzheimerâs disease, England and Wales, 2019
Notes:
The age group with the highest age-standardised mortality rate in England and Wales was those aged 95 years and over, with a rate of 7,306.4 per 100,000 people . The ASMR increased significantly throughout the five-year age groups for those over 65 years. The age group with the highest number of deaths was those aged 85 to 89 years with 18,981 deaths.
It is important to note that 84.6% of all deaths registered in 2019 were from those aged 65 years and over, therefore the increase in mortality rates is to be expected in the older age groups. For deaths due to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, the ASMR for those aged 65 years and under in 2019 was 0.6 .
The following analysis will focus on England and Wales separately, allowing any difference in trends between the two countries to be identified.
In 2019, the ASMR for deaths due to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, for all ages, was significantly higher in England than in Wales . However, this difference was not prevalent among all age groups.
The greatest proportion of deaths in England due to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease occurred in care homes this was 65.4% of all deaths due to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This is a much greater proportion of deaths than when considering all causes of death and any other leading cause of death in 2019.
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Support For Families And Alzheimer’s Disease Caregivers
Caring for a person with Alzheimers can have significant physical, emotional, and financial costs. The demands of day-to-day care, changes in family roles, and decisions about placement in a care facility can be difficult. NIA supports efforts to evaluate programs, strategies, approaches, and other research to improve the quality of care and life for those living with dementia and their caregivers.
Becoming well-informed about the disease is one important long-term strategy. Programs that teach families about the various stages of Alzheimers and about ways to deal with difficult behaviors and other caregiving challenges can help.
Good coping skills, a strong support network, and respite care are other things that may help caregivers handle the stress of caring for a loved one with Alzheimers. For example, staying physically active provides physical and emotional benefits.
Some caregivers have found that joining a support group is a critical lifeline. These support groups enable caregivers to find respite, express concerns, share experiences, get tips, and receive emotional comfort. Many organizations sponsor in-person and online support groups, including groups for people with early-stage Alzheimers and their families.
Read about this topic in Spanish. Lea sobre este tema en español.
Figure : Dementia And Alzheimers Disease Had The Highest Number Of Mentions For Deaths Due To Dementia And Alzheimers Disease In Part Ii Of The Death Certificate
Number of mentions in Part II of the death certificate, by leading cause, England and Wales, 2019
Notes:
Part II of the death certificate is where a cause can be noted on a death certificate as contributing to the death but not related to the disease or condition causing it. However, for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, coding changes that took place in 2014 can mean this is not the case.
The coding changes included a change in the coding of chest infections which contributed to a reduction of 2.5% in deaths allocated an underlying cause of respiratory disease and an increase of 7.0% in those allocated to the mental and behavioural disorders chapter, which includes dementia.
Deaths given an underlying cause of dementia were also increased by a rule change to count aspiration pneumonia as being a consequence of one of a number of other conditions. The total percentage change in deaths attributed to an underlying cause of dementia was 7.1%.
This means that there are coding rules that state conditions like aspiration pneumonia and chest infections can be a consequence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This results in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease being selected as the underlying cause of death, even if it is recorded as a contributory factor in Part II. A plausible causal chain can be created by including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease even if it is recorded in Part II, which is why it is then selected as the underlying cause of death.
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Dying From Dementia With Late
The death of your loved one can be a hard concept to wrap your head around and accept. But knowing what to expect can help you when your loved one has late-stage dementia. It might help to know what will happen in the future so that you can be prepared emotionally and logistically.
This article discusses how dementia progresses and what to expect during late-stage dementia.
What Else Are The Experts Saying
The recent research shows that the mortality rate for dementia, which was the second leading cause of death for the previous four years, has more than doubled since 2010. This has led to urgent calls for increased research and advances in treatments. Hilary Evans, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“These figures once again call attention to the uncomfortable reality that currently, no-one survives a diagnosis of dementia. Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing, it’s caused by diseases that can be fought through research, and we must bring all our efforts to bear on what is now our greatest medical challenge.”
Martina Kane, of the Alzheimer’s Society, also highlighted the need for increased services.
“It is essential that people have access to the right support and services to help them live well with dementia and that research into better care, treatments and eventually a cure remain high on the agenda.”
For more information about the signs and symptoms of dementia, visit our fact page. If you are concerned about dementia, visit your GP.
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The Basics Of Alzheimers Disease
Scientists are conducting studies to learn more about plaques, tangles, and other biological features of Alzheimers disease. Advances in brain imaging techniques allow researchers to see the development and spread of abnormal amyloid and tau proteins in the living brain, as well as changes in brain structure and function. Scientists are also exploring the very earliest steps in the disease process by studying changes in the brain and body fluids that can be detected years before Alzheimers symptoms appear. Findings from these studies will help in understanding the causes of Alzheimers and make diagnosis easier.
One of the great mysteries of Alzheimers disease is why it largely affects older adults. Research on normal brain aging is exploring this question. For example, scientists are learning how age-related changes in the brain may harm neurons and affect other types of brain cells to contribute to Alzheimers damage. These age-related changes include atrophy of certain parts of the brain, inflammation, blood vessel damage, production of unstable molecules called free radicals, and mitochondrial dysfunction .
Alzheimers Disease A Much Larger Cause Of Death Than Previously Recognized
A new study by researchers at Rush indicates that Alzheimers disease may be one of the leading causes of death in the United States
A new study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center indicates that Alzheimers disease may be one of the leading causes of death in the United States. The study, published in the March 5 issue of Neurology, shows that the disease may be an underlying cause of five to six times as many deaths as currently reported.
Alzheimers disease and other dementias are under-reported on death certificates and medical records, said study author Bryan D. James, PhD, an epidemiologist with the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center. Death certificates often list the immediate cause of death, such as pneumonia, rather than listing dementia as an underlying cause.
James added that attempting to identify a single cause of death does not always capture the reality of the process of dying for most elderly people, as multiple health issues often contribute.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Alzheimers disease is currently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States following cancer, the second leading cause of death and heart disease, the number one cause of death among Americans. This data is reported on death certificates.
The estimates generated by our analysis suggest that deaths from Alzheimers disease far exceed the numbers reported by the CDC and those listed on death certificates, said James.
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People Who Have Alzheimer’s Disease Need Others To Care For Them And Many Of Those Providing Care Are Not Paid For Their Time And Services
- More than 16 million Americans, usually family and friends, provide unpaid care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementias.10 According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics11, that would be just shy of a tenth of the entire US workforce. In 2017, these people provided an estimated 18.5 billion hours of unpaid care, a contribution valued at more than $234 billion.1 This would be about 46% of Walmarts total revenue in 2017 12 and 10 times the total revenue of McDonald’s in 2017 .13