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Is Alzheimer's Disease Fatal, and How Does It Lead to Death?

How do you die from Alzheimer's disease? Learn why those with Alzheimer's are more likely to die from infections or falls caused by the disease, not the disease itself.

By Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi
Jan 27, 2023 5:00 PMAug 4, 2023 3:03 PM
Alzheimer's disease
(Credit:Orawan Pattarawimonchai/Shutterstock)

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Legendary film star Rita Hayworth. President Ronald Reagan. Charlotte's Web author E.B. White. These household names all had Alzheimer's Disease, and their biographies typically state that this is how they died. They join a long list of celebrities who died from the disease. 

Is Alzheimer's Disease Fatal?

Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease that progressively erodes a person's memory and ability to function. But it's not a fatal disease; people with Alzheimer's die from an underlying condition that develops due to deterioration.

In recent years, researchers have scrutinized data from studies to determine which illnesses have consistently claimed the lives of Alzheimer's patients. Understanding the end-of-life experience of Alzheimer's patients is crucial because scientists expect the number of people living with the disease will double by 2050.


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