February 20, 2008
People with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia live, on average, about four and a half years after their condition is diagnosed. This is based mainly on people in their 80s and 90s who have recently developed Alzheimer's. In general, people with Alzheimer's have about one-half the life expectancy, after diagnosis, than people who do not have Alzheimer's. The present findings are from a large collaborative study group in the United Kingdom. The findings appeared in the British Medical Journal.
The findings may help those who care for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease to better plan for the future. The results highlight that dementia is a chronic condition, and that people with Alzheimer's will likely need care for a number of years after their diagnosis. At the same time, the average survival time is under five years, with wide variations depending on age and physical condition at the time of diagnosis.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge followed more than 13,000 men and women, aged 65 and up, for 14 years. During that time, 438 of the study participants developed Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, and more than 80 percent of those with dementia died.
Overall, men with dementia did not live as long as women with the disease: 4.1 years for men, versus 4.6 years for women. And men or women in frail physical shape did not tend to live as long as their more physically robust peers. It's important to note that these numbers mainly reflect people in their 80s and 90s. Younger people who get Alzheimer's generally live longer. The rule of thumb is to assume half the life expectancy of a normal person of the same age.
How far advanced the cognitive decline was, on the other hand, did not sharply influence how long someone tended to live after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, according to the present study. Nor did being married, which some studies have linked with improved survival. People who lived at home tended to live slightly longer than those living in a nursing home, though the differences were not statistically significant.
The median age at death was 90 for women and 87 for men. Average survival times varied widely, however, depending on the age at diagnosis. Those who were diagnosed at a younger age, from 65 to 69, lived an average of 10.7 years after diagnsosis. Those diagnosed in their 90s, on the other hand, lived an average of 3.8 years.
People with more education tended to live slightly less long than those who were less educated. However, the difference was not significant.
A Growing Problem
While life expectancies are increasing around the globe, one side effect of the aging population is a growing incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Worldwide, more than 80 million people may suffer from dementia by the year 2040.
Knowing how long a person with dementia might survive is important for caregivers and health policymakers. People with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia have markedly decreased life expectancies. They are two to four times more likely to die than someone of the same age who does not have dementia.
Various earlier reports have shown wide variation in expected survival after a diagnosis of dementia. President Ronald Reagan, for example, lived more than a decade with the disease. Some cases may progress very rapidly. Others may linger for decades.
Many factors come into play when estimating how long someone with Alzheimer's might survive. This study adds additional data about what caregivers might expect when preparing for a future of Alzheimer's.
By www.ALZinfo.org, The Alzheimer's Information Site. Reviewed by William J. Netzer, Ph.D., Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation at The Rockefeller University.
Source:
Jing Xie, Carol Brayne, Fiona E. Matthews and the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study Collaborators: "Survival Times in People With Dementia: Analysis from Population Based Cohort Study With 14 Year Follow-Up." British Medical Journal, online edition, January 11, 2008
Have family member: problem: has always been mean spirited. mid. 70. now just plain mean. accusations, you took this or whatever and sold it, or just stole it. when article has not been there for 20 years.How does one get him to a Dr. for an assesment. I sometimes fear he may hurt those near him. If someone not a relative, talks to him, he appears to be perfectly normal says all the right things, but when they leave look out. While all the information I read is good, it just doesn’t help me. can you. thanyou rose
I can totally identify, but we eventually got the doctor to come to him when he had a bit of a cold and that set the ballrolling but noit far…. so far… I wonder lso why or whther the mean-spiritedness of a person has something to do with the Dementia?? Hmmm……
My husband is 82 years your old. He has had dementia for 2 years. He is not getting better, and is getting worst. I asked our Doctor for some advice and he told me not to worry, its old age. I was so upset, I know he is getting older, but I asked him about dementia. He simply did not answer me. Now I don’t know how I can handle it.
Thank you,
Rosemarie Drews
I have had a similar problem ring the surgery and ask for a social service referal to your local social services.the surgery has a legal obligation to act,the social srvices have a duty of care package for everybody and will asses your your husband according to his needs don’t delay it’s your right’s
My husband is only 58 and we have been told he has presenile dementia. At the moment he seems like the same person just forgetting odd things like conversations that have taken place, invitations out, list of items to buy. Little things. He has been told not to drive which he cannot understand why has he has done nothing wrong. Worried about future
I know how you feel. I have a dad with frontal lobal dementia, he is now in a nursing home, really struggled to care for him, could not cope, terrible to see someone you care for with an ilness like that, he changed overnite, accused us of taking things, stealing his money, etc,also shoplifting, mental abuse, violence, trying to understand that it’s not him, but finding difficulty understanding what he’s going through, can anyone help me to understand, fear for the future.
Go to another doctor immediately, you cannot cope with this all alone, the doctor is just being lazy and selfish and a BAD doctor. Go to other people like Alzheimers Societies, etc and aSK for help and you will find it , do not settle, you owe it to BOTH of you!!!!
Julie,
I would appreciate any information or experiences you have had. I just returned from a neurologist’s appt. with my 60 year old sister. She has been diagnosed with frontal temporal dementia. My brother believes that the only solution is assisted living which we can’t afford. She is complete denial and is paranoid that most all of us, on a rotating basis, are out to get her.
I just attended an inservice for my employer, about dementia and alzheimers: staying safe, behaviors, activities at home and personal care. I feel so much more educated and I am thankful that there is an organization that is able to help and ease the understanding. I received phamphlets and material to take home as well, from a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s association. There is a phone number on the back of one of the phamphlets ( 1 800 272 3900 ) or a website ( http://www.alz.org ). I hope this helps!
i have a mom just diagnosis with dementia, I am shocked she is only 66 very outgoing and colorful personality. I notice changes in her personality and she wants everyone to wait on her hand and foot, she has always been very independant, she still drives and has her own home. What can I expect as this condition worsens.
My husband has Primary Progressive MS with
dementia that is getting worse by the day.
He absesses over small things and for many years has had his cognitive skills deminished and it seems to be daily more
severly disabling. When he had his last MRI
in February the doctor said his MS in the
front lobe of his brain had night changed.
A close friend was having problems with memory. She had a stroke in the Spring and behaviors changed so much and very fast. Now she is in the hosp. in a psych ward and the Dr. says Severe Dementia. She was 62 today. Her husband can’t give up hope and wants her to come back home. There’s a fear of her hurting herself or someone but he’s not ready to let go. He’s hoping for a combination of meds that may help. It is just so very sad to see someone who was so upbeat and beautiful go through this. They live in another state now and pictures taken today just show empty eyes and you see the anger and she was never like this. It’s just so sad! God Bless all who have to deal with a loved one with this.
Hi there,
My mother has Vascular Dementia for over one year. She has memory impairment, confused with her saying, paranoid and anxiety. she is in Resthome since September and has commented that I am her adopted child.
OMG I don’t what to do with her.
My roommate is diagnosed with dementia
I need help understanding ,this condition
how to help him.
This Might be a good start for you “I’ve been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s“