Diagnosed with dementia? Study explains how many years one lives after that

Every time someone is diagnosed with dementia, they are filled with questions on their survival and how much more time they are left. Usually, it is a difficult question to face for healthcare professionals. However, a recent study led by Chiara C. Brück, Erasmus MC University Medical Centre provides estimates on life expectancy after being diagnosed with dementia. Also read | Dementia risk factors you can control: Essential lifestyle changes for a healthier brain

Findings of the study:

The study published in the BMJ analysed 261 studies involving over 5.5 million people with dementia. The researchers observed that the age of the patient has a significant role to play in life expectancy of them after being diagnosed with dementia. It was observed that when women at the age of 60 were diagnosed with dementia, they had an average of 8.9 years, while those diagnosed at 85 could expect to live about 4.5 years. Men showed shorter survival times overall, ranging from 5.7 years when diagnosed at age 65 to 2.2 years at age 85.

Dementia;s life expectancy and the age factor:

Dementia at an earlier age was observed to cut down more life duration from the affected person. The study observed that when diagnosed with dementia at the age of 65, a person’s 13 years of life was cut, but when diagnosed at the age of 85, their life expectancy was cut down by only two years. Also read | Iron buildup in your brain can increase dementia risk! This diet can help

Type of dementia and life expectancy:

The type of dementia one if affected with also decides the life expectancy of the person. The study observed that people affected with Alzheimer’s disease lived 1.4 years longer than others who are affected with other forms of dementia like vascular dementia or Lewy body dementia.

“About one third of remaining life expectancy was lived in nursing homes, with more than half of people moving to a nursing home within five years after a dementia diagnosis. Prognosis after a dementia diagnosis is highly dependent on personal and clinical characteristics, offering potential for individualised prognostic information and care planning,” read an excerpt of the study. Also read | Reduce your dementia risk by 12% by including this super brain food in your diet

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.