Read on to learn more about dementia life expectancy, the stages of the condition, and the outlook for a few common dementia subtypes.
Dementia life expectancy
According to a
- 4.6–5.1 years after diagnosis for females
- 4.1–4.3 years after diagnosis for males
However, as the researchers note, many factors can influence life expectancy, including the age at the time of diagnosis and the type of dementia.
Stages of dementia
Dementia can be broken down into
Early stage dementia
Symptoms can be subtle in the earliest stage. A person may experience symptoms
For example, they may lose track of time. Some people may become lost easily or forget to pay bills or keep appointments.
Middle stage dementia
As dementia progresses from the early stage, symptoms become more noticeable. A person may forget recent events or the names of people they know well. They may also begin to wander or have difficulty communicating.
People with dementia often need more help with everyday tasks and personal care as the condition worsens.
Late stage dementia
In the final stage of dementia, people may be mostly or entirely dependent. Caregivers may need to dress, bathe, and feed them.
Eventually, people with late stage dementia lose the ability to walk and talk. Some people with dementia die of dementia-related complications. Others may die due to another condition, such as heart disease or cancer.
Learn more about dementia stages and progression.
Alzheimer’s disease outlook
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. People with the condition
- 5.1 years for females
- 5.2 years for males
However, some people with the condition may live much longer. Alzheimer’s disease
Learn more about the stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Lewy body dementia outlook
Like Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia has a
- females live an average of 4.3 years
- males live an average of 3.4 years
Learn more about Lewy body dementia stages and progression.
Vascular dementia outlook
The average life expectancy for vascular dementia is also lower than it is for Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers estimate that females live
Because acute events like a stroke can cause vascular dementia, the symptoms
As with any form of dementia, these figures are estimates and may not reflect your experience. Talk with your care team about the outlook for your situation.
Learn more about vascular dementia outlook and life expectancy.
Improving your outlook
Though dementia can’t be stopped or reversed, it may be possible to relieve the symptoms or slow their progression.
Some medications, like donepezil (Aricept) and galantamine (Razadyne),
Your care team may also recommend a variety of
- eating a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables
- getting regular physical activity
- getting enough high quality sleep
- reducing stress
- engaging with other people socially
Summary
Though dementia results in a shorter lifespan, individual life expectancies and outlooks can be influenced by many factors, such as overall health and dementia subtype. Research statistics are general estimates and may not reflect your situation.
If you or a loved one has dementia, talk with a healthcare professional about the outlook for your specific situation.
