Several otherforms of dementiaexist.
Life expectancy after a dementia diagnosis is affected by the age of diagnosis and the jot down of dementia.
Yet age, in and of itself, is the strongest known risk factor for dementia.
Thomas Tolstrup / Getty Images
This is due to changes in the brains of older adults.
There are an estimated 6.7 million individuals with Alzheimer’s disease in America.
Young-Onset Dementia
There is a subset of dementia called young-onset dementia.
In younger individuals, neurodegenerative dementias, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are more likelycaused by genetics.
Additionally, it is more common that the cause of dementia is reversible in younger populations.
Dementia can have metabolic, inflammatory, viral, or toxic causes.
Sometimes, these conditions are treatable.
The initial symptoms of young-onset dementia are often more variable than those of late-onset dementia.
Symptoms may include challenges with behavior, personality changes, or executive functioning challenges.
The initial presentation may look more like apsychiatric illnessthan dementia.
As a result, delays in diagnosis are common.
It can take some time for symptoms to develop, too.
For example, individuals withcardiovascular diseasemay be more likely to develop dementia.
Their cardiovascular disease may contribute to a shorter life expectancy.
Individuals who receive a late-stage diagnosis may experiencedifficulties with swallowingor a weakened immune response.
They may spend more time in bed, leading to increased frailty.
These factors can all lead to a shorter life expectancy.
The throw in of dementia also plays a role.
Those with vascular dementia are at an increased risk of heart disease andstroke.
The average life expectancy for several types of dementia is as follows:
These are simply averages.
This means eating healthy, exercising, staying social, focusing on good sleep, andbeing mindful.
Several factors determine longevity after diagnosis.
Patients should talk with their doctor or a psychologist for strategies to cope with social situations.
Once diagnosed, several measures can provide whole-person dementia care.
Keep in mind, though, that many people live with severe disability due to their advancing disease.
The average survival time was a little over five years for females and four years for males.
Preventing Dementia
Regarding dementia, diagnosis, and onset may be partially preventable with lifestyle modification.
A 2022 study examined five healthy lifestyle factors of several thousand men and women aged 65 and older.
Individuals who maintain a healthy lifestyle may have a 60% reduced rate of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Summary
Dementia is a common condition among people 65 and older.
While it is more common in older individuals, it is not a part of normal aging.
In some instances, lifestyle modifications may prevent dementia from happening.
There is no cure for dementia.
However, several ways exist to improve your quality of life after a dementia diagnosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About dementia.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Social Determinants of Health and Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias.
2023 Alzheimers disease facts and figures.Alzheimers Dement.
2023;19(4):1598-1695.
14(10):e30025.
2023;218(4):182-189.
National Institute on Aging.Alzheimer’s disease fact sheet.
Heron M.Deaths: Leading causes for 2017.
National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 68 no 6.
Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.
Alzheimers Society.The later stage of dementia.
National Institute on Aging.Tips for living alone with early-stage dementia.
2020;16(4):662-671.
2020;396(10248):413-446.
Snowdon DA.Aging and Alzheimers disease: lessons from the Nun Study.Gerontologist.
1997;37(2):150-156.
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
Alzheimer’s Disease Life Expectancy.
Johnson E, Brookmeyer R, Ziegler-graham K.Modeling the Effect of Alzheimer’s Disease on Mortality.Int J Biostat.
2007;3(1):Article 13.
Zanetti O, Solerte SB, Cantoni F.Life Expectancy in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).
2009;49 Suppl 1:237-43.
