Alzheimer's Disease MortalityPaperback, 27 August 2008

This research explores mortality by Alzheimer's (AD). The Center for Disease Control estimates the incidence of AD doubles every 5 years after age 65. Research exploring the oldest old is limited due to low frequencies in sample research. This study combines 5 years of U.S. mortality files, from 1998 to 2002, to analyze mortality by AD beginning at age 60 to 64, including the oldest old. Mortality by AD peaks for decedents aged 85 to 89 and begins to decline for decedents over age 90. These declining numbers were due in part to declining decedents after age 85. Regressions found different mortality patterns among the oldest old. Females are more likely to die of AD than males. Non-Hispanic Whites are more likely to die of AD than Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks. There is an increased risk of dying in a nursing home if one dies of AD. This analysis is topical due to the aging of the baby boomers, who are reaching the age of risk of AD and especially useful to health and long term care planners, gerontologists, population fields and demographers studying mortality.