Alzheimer's may kill as many people as heart disease, cancer
Mar-06-2014

Alzheimer's may take as many lives as heart disease or cancer, far surpassing current estimates that list the disease as the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S., according to new research.

Currently, heart disease and cancer are the first and second leading causes of death among Americans. However, researchers say the numbers are based on what is reported on death certificates, which could under-represent Alzheimer's-related deaths.

"Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are under-reported on death certificates and medical records," study author Bryan D. James, an epidemiologist with the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center in Chicago, said in a press release. "Death certificates often list the immediate cause of death, such as pneumonia, rather than listing dementia as an underlying cause."

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia in adults. A degenerative disease, it affects areas of the brain that control thought, memory and language. Though the disease begins with people easily forgetting events or names of others, it progresses to difficulties with speaking, reading or writing. People may forget how to do basic tasks, become anxious or aggressive, and wander from home.

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