The research: Researchers at the American Academy of Neurology did annual testing for dementia on 2,566 adults, ages 65 and older for an average of 8 years. During the study, 1,090 participants died, 559 of whom were diagnosed with dementia, and autopsies confirmed that 90% of the deceased participants with dementia died from Alzheimer’s. Dementia is a group of symptoms that have an effect on mental functions such as memory and reasoning, and while there are many causes of it, the most common is Alzheimer’s. What it means: There are currently 5 million American adults living with Alzheimer’s. The study infers that 503,400 deaths should have been attributed to Alzheimer’s in 2010, rather than the 83,494 reported, says study author Bryan D. James, PhD, assistant professor at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago. Why the discrepancy? Because death certificates generally list the direct cause of death, such as pneumonia, rather than the primary cause, like Alzheimer’s, he says. “Many people do not realize that Alzheimer’s is a fatal disease. Alzheimer’s disease starts in the part of your brain that controls your memory and thinking, but over the years it spreads to the parts of your brain that controls more basic functions such as breathing and swallowing,” says Dr. James. The bottom line: While other major causes of death are going down, Alzheimer’s continues to rise as we lack effective treatment, says Dr. James. There is currently no cure for the disease, but staying physically, mentally, and socially active can help prevent the onset of it. Click here to learn more. More from Prevention: Alzheimer’s Disease Signs And Symptoms
