Mortality Rate Increases for Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer's disease ranked eighth out of the 10 leading causes of death in Los Angeles County, according to a new report by the county Department of Public Health, the Los Angeles Times reports. The death rate from Alzheimer's increased by 220% between 1994 and 2003, according to the report.
The emergence of the disease as a leading cause of mortality could be attributed to improved reporting and diagnosis of Alzheimer's, as well as the expanding senior population because of the baby boomer generation, the Times reports.
Experts say that by age 65, a person has a 10% chance of contracting Alzheimer's. However, by age 85, the chance increases to 50% (Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 11/16).