Can You Die From Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease?

Once dementia progresses through the later stages, patients can die of either related organ failure or complications and infections from their disease. Knowing what to expect as dementia progresses can help caregivers prepare in advance for the later stages of the disease.

People generally don’t die of early- or middle-stage dementia. But end-stage dementia can be a direct cause of death by disrupting bodily functions. That’s because Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia are progressive diseases, meaning they get worse over time. Dementia is generally only a cause of death once a person’s bodily functions are affected by the disease.

In other cases, dementia isn’t deadly on its own. But brain damage can cause other fatal conditions, and resulting complications — like infections and malnutrition — can lead to death.

Dementia affects cognitive function, then physical ability

Dementia is an umbrella term that applies to various types of abnormal cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells: Tau and beta-amyloid proteins build up, affecting the parts of the brain that regulate memory and emotions.

Since different parts of the brain control different functions, when cells in a certain part of the brain are damaged, its corresponding functions can’t be carried out normally. Eventually, the parts of the brain that control mobility, breathing, and eating begin to malfunction. This malfunction can cause death attributed to dementia.

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As dementia progresses, it begins to affect not only memory and behavior but also higher brain functions, according to the National Institute on Aging.^[01]

The brain stem is often the last part of the brain that Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia affect, according to the Cleveland Clinic.^[02] It controls the most vital functions for life: heart rate, breathing, digestion, and blood pressure. A disruption of those functions can lead to death.

Dementia as a cause of death

Alzheimer’s disease — the most common form of dementia — is widely acknowledged as a cause of death. In fact, it was the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. between 1999 and 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).^[03] Because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alzheimer’s is now seventh, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.^[04]

That number becomes much higher once age is factored into the equation: Alzheimer’s and other dementias are the fourth leading cause of death among seniors over the age of 85, according to the CDC Wonder Database.^[05]

Because it’s progressive, dementia becomes more fatal with age. Only 28.6 out of every 100,000 people aged 65-74 die of dementia each year, while 1,287.3 per 100,000 die after age 85, according to the CDC.

People die from dementia once their disease begins to affect breathing, ability to swallow, organ function, and even heart rhythms, according to research published in the journal PLOS ONE.^[06] Even if symptoms don’t become this severe, people can die from dementia complications, like infections from aspirating food or malnutrition.

Fatal complications of dementia

Because dementia often leads to or is accompanied by other potentially life-threatening conditions, it likely contributes to more deaths than those represented by the numbers above. In other words, dementia can lead to death even without being an official cause of death.

The total number of U.S. deaths linked to dementia could be up to three times greater than what is reported on death certificates, according to a 2020 study funded by the National Institute on Aging.[7]

These conditions can contribute to or cause death in seniors with late-stage dementia:

• Dehydration and malnutrition, especially if a senior can no longer eat independently and has chosen not to be tube-fed in their advance directives
• Heart attack
• Lung infections like pneumonia, sometimes caused by inhalation of food particles by patients who can no longer swallow correctly
• Complications from falls or other injuries
• Sepsis from urinary tract infections
• Infection from untreated bed sores
• Kidney failure

Read more:The Benefits of Hospice in Memory Care Facilities

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Whether your loved one has just received a dementia diagnosis or they’re already experiencing symptoms of late-stage dementia, it’s possible to improve their lives through effective care.

Caring for a loved one with mild to moderate dementia: Being prepared

Though dementia and its complications can lead to death, a new diagnosis doesn’t mean your loved one can’t live a fulfilling and stimulating life for years to come.

It is, however, important to be prepared, as advance preparation can make your caregiving journey smoother. These resources can help:

• Learn the answers to 10 common dementia questionswith this comprehensive guide for caregivers.
• Connect with other caregivers and dementia patients through an online caregiver forum.
• Take the time to ensure your needs are met so you don’t encounter the damaging results of dementia caregiving. Keeping yourself healthy and avoiding caregiver burnout helps your loved one, too.
• Consider a memory care community to best support your loved one as their dementia progresses. Memory care communities can offer stimulation and health support for seniors throughout their cognitive decline.

Caring for a loved one with late-stage dementia

It’s possible to help loved ones feel more comfortable during the later stages of dementia and to prolong life through the right care.

Memory care communities have the resources to help dementia patients live their fullest lives, even as the disease progresses. These communities can provide the following benefits.

Keep residents engaged. Many communities offer sensory and reminiscence therapies to encourage engagement. Even if a person becomes nonverbal or unable to communicate clearly, they may enjoy listening to favorite songs from childhood, feeling engaging textures, or looking at old photos.

Offer feeding assistance. Nurses and aides can make sure residents are in an upright position for digestion, adapt food to help with swallowing problems, and monitor fluid intake.

Help with mobility. Preventing bedsores is a significant concern for patients with late-stage dementia. Providing 24-hour care means nurses and aides can reposition your loved one regularly, reducing infection risks.

It’s worth noting that many memory care communities have entry requirements, and some may not admit seniors who are unable to eat independently. In those cases, families may seek a nursing home with dementia specialists or hospice.

A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can help you determine which type of care your loved one needs based on their current dementia symptoms. From there, they can answer your questions and guide you through the search for the right community that best fits your family’s needs. And, their assistance comes at no cost to you.