Does Dementia Kill You?

Dementia is defined as fatal brain failure which leads to death. Many people think of dementia as a memory disorder associated with old age. That is true, specifically in the early stages, but it goes much further than that. As the disease progresses it leads to complete brain failure, resulting in death. It is not simply a mental ailment as many people often perceive it as.

The stages of dementia can vary between people and the different types of dementia but it is considered a slow-progressing disease. Many patients with dementia will live for several years, sometimes even longer than a decade, after first being diagnosed. The progression of the disease may be slow but, unfortunately, there is no cure and the disease will lead to death in the final stages.

How Does Dementia Kill You?

Dementia is an umbrella term that covers many progressive brain diseases including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and vascular dementia, among others. Patients of these diseases often exhibit different symptoms in the early stages of the specific disease they were diagnosed with but during the late stages, most symptoms are the same.

It’s a common misconception that dementia itself doesn’t kill the patient but rather major health events while suffering from dementia are the cause. While it’s not uncommon for major health issues to be associated with dementia, the majority of patients die from the disease itself. That is why many experts recommend palliative care for patients in the end-stage of dementia. Rather than utilizing aggressive treatments for health problems caused by dementia, which cause additional distress and discomfort while rarely extending lifespan, they recommend keeping the patient comfortable and improving quality of life.

Get Dementia Care from the Top Home Care Providers in Phoenix, AZ

Do you have a family member or loved one suffering from dementia? Call (480) 999-3012 and talk to one of our staff at Devoted Guardians. We are one of Arizona’s largest home care providers with personnel trained in dementia care. We offer daily 24-hour living assistance, including nighttime watch, and personal care.