Causes of Death Among Older Adults

No, it is Not Alzheimer’s! Although older adults worry a great deal about AD, it is NOT even in the top five causes of death. Alzheimer's Disease is a fatal progressive illness that is expected to increase as the older population increases. However, it is a MYTH that it is the leading cause of death among older adults. The reality is that poor lifestyle choices are the to blame for older adults dying prematurely.

According to the National Institutes of Health (2011), “More older adults die from complications of the flu or pneumonia than AD every year… and there are vaccines for them.” Here are the SEVEN top causes of annual deaths among older adults:

1. Heart Disease 34%
2. Cancer 22%
3. Stroke and related diseases 8%
4. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary[COPD] 6%
5. Influenza and pneumonia 3%
6. Diabetes Mellitus [DMII] 3%
7. Alzheimer’s Disease 2%

Older adults with AD often die of another illness before they succumb to AD and that is why the figures vary to a great degree among various advocacy organizations.

The take away message from the AgeDoc is this: Lose weight, eat right, exercise, drink water, be happy, get a flu and pneumonia shot, and get all the diagnostics you can afford and STOP worrying about Alzheimer's Disease. The likelihood of getting it is minuscule! AgeDoc