Latest Statistics Say That Dementia Is Leading Cause of Death

For the first time, statistics show dementia as the leading cause of death. Latest figures reveal that dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, has now replaced heart disease as the top cause of death in England and Wales.

In a report by The Guardian, the year 2015 recorded 529,655 deaths in both countries, and 11.6 percent of that were attributed to dementia. Based on the research by Office for National Statistics, this number of deaths is a result of the aging population these countries have.

Aside from the aging population, the changes in the statistics were affected by other several factors. Elizabeth McLaren of ONS explained, "In 2015, dementia and Alzheimer's disease became the leading cause of death in part because people are simply living longer but also because of improved detection and diagnosis. An updating of the international rules for determining the underlying cause of death is also a factor, with the increase in cases attributed to these conditions accompanied by falls in other causes."

According to BBC News, dementia deaths were prevalent among women compared to men. In 2015, records show there were 41,283 women deaths compared to only 20,403 in men. In the same year, dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, take up 15.2 percent of all female deaths. This is a noticeable increase from 13.4 percent in 2014.

Other statistics show that in 2015, heart disease was still the leading cause of death for men, while for women aged 35 to 49, it was breast cancer. Overall, the cancer group was still the most common cause of death.

Martina Kane, a senior policy officer at Alzheimer's Society, further explains how U.K. faces dementia saying, "It is essential that people have access to the right support and services to help them live well with dementia and that research into better care, treatments and eventually a cure remain high on the agenda."