Lifespan after Alzheimer's diagnosis linked to age
29 November 2002
A person's lifespan after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease depends on their age at diagnosis, US researchers say.
Patients diagnosed at the age of 65 years could expect to live for a median of 9 years, the researchers said. But if diagnosis occurred at the age of 90 years, a person could expect to live for only about 3 more years.
The researchers presumed the difference occurred because older patients were at high risk of dying from other causes (Archives of Neurology 2002; 59: 1764-67).
Every 2 years, the researchers followed the progress of more than 900 people who enrolled in a study of normal ageing in the 1950s and the late 1970s.
They found no significant differences between men and women in survival after an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
Last Reviewed: 02 December 2002
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 29/11/02
