Can Someone Die From Dementia? Late Stages, Complications, and Death from Dementia

Dementia is a common disease in older adults. More than 55 million people have dementia around the world. And many more people will care for friends or family members with dementia. This raises important questions about what to expect, especially in the later stages. Here we’ll talk about how dementia affects life expectancy. We'll also discuss the factors that can lead to death in people with dementia.

Can you die from dementia? 

Yes, you can die from dementia. Dementia is a progressive disease. This means that it gets worse over time, and can eventually lead to death. It can be very difficult for people with dementia and their loved ones to experience this progression.

People with dementia can also die from other diseases more commonly seen in older adults, including:

• Stroke

• Cancer

• Heart disease

• Kidney disease

This means some people with dementia will die from other illnesses before their dementia worsens. 

Data from U.S. death certificates show that more than 250,000 people died from dementia in 2017. Of these deaths, 46% were from Alzheimer’s disease. (Even though Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, there are other types as well.)

On the other hand, dementia was listed as a contributing cause of death (not the primary cause) on just under 130,000 death certificates. 

This tells us that people with dementia die from dementia, but also from other causes.

How long do people with dementia live?

There’s a wide range in life expectancy when someone is diagnosed with dementia. It depends on someone’s: 

• Age at the time of diagnosis

• Type of dementia

• Other medical conditions

• Severity of their symptoms

So it’s difficult to say exactly how long a person will live, but researchers have tried to answer this question. 

One study looking at a group of people with dementia found that half of the group died within 5 years of the diagnosis. The other half of the group lived more than 5 years. The people in the study with dementia didn’t live as long as people without dementia. And those diagnosed at a younger age lived longer than those diagnosed when they were older.

What life-threatening complications make dementia fatal? 

Living with dementia can be difficult because it interferes with daily life. Symptoms of dementia vary depending on the type and how severe it is, but often include problems with:

• Memory

• Communication

• Attention

• Judgment

• Problem solving

These symptoms make it hard for people with dementia to do daily activities. Over time, they may need more support from family or other caregivers.

As dementia gets worse, it can make it difficult to move, sit up, and even speak and swallow. This is why people with dementia may need help with basic tasks like dressing, bathing, and eating. If you know someone with dementia, it can be heartbreaking to see this happen.

People who have difficulty moving, speaking, and swallowing can be more likely to experience complications, including:

• Falls

• Blood clots

• Dehydration

• Malnutrition

• Infections

Many of these complications can be treated, but may lead to more healthcare visits or hospitalizations. Some people with dementia may not want life-saving treatments or may not recover even with treatment. Understandably, caregivers often feel the burden of helping their loved ones live safely to prevent these complications. But even with the best of care, they’re not always avoidable.

What is the leading cause of death for people with dementia?

Two common causes of death in people with dementia are pneumonia and heart disease.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for all adults. It’s more common as people get older, and also affects people with dementia. 

There are different types of heart disease. One study that looked at causes of death in people with dementia found that ischemic heart disease — when the narrowing of arteries decreases the heart’s blood supply — was a leading cause.

The same study found that pneumonia was the most common cause of death in this group of people with dementia. Aspiration pneumonia is one type of pneumonia that happens when food or other material from the mouth ends up in the lungs. People who have difficulty swallowing are at higher risk. This can cause a serious infection that can be fatal. 

Caring for someone in the late stages of dementia is difficult. Their medical care can be complicated and demanding. And it can be incredibly hard to watch a loved one’s health condition worsen. Try to remind yourself you don’t have to do it alone. There are resources that can help you and your family get through this difficult time.

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Written by:

Sarah Pozniak, MD

Sarah Pozniak, MD, has 9 years of experience since graduating medical school (6 since completing residency). She is a board-certified general internal medicine physician and has practiced as a primary care physician in both Utah and Washington, D.C. Currently, she cares for patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure using telemedicine as part of a virtual care program.

Edited by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

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