Study Reveals Average Life Expectancy Following Dementia Diagnosis

New Delhi: A recent study has shed light on how dementia affects life expectancy, revealing that the reduction in life span varies significantly depending on the age at diagnosis. For individuals diagnosed at age 85, life expectancy is reduced by approximately two years. This decreases further to 3-4 years for diagnoses at age 80 and up to 13 years for those diagnosed at age 65.

The systematic review, published in The BMJ, analyzed the latest evidence and found that the average life expectancy for women diagnosed with dementia ranges from 9 years at age 60 to 4.5 years at age 85. For men, the range is slightly lower, from 6.5 years at age 60 to just over 2 years at age 85. Interestingly, survival was 1.4 years longer on average among Asian populations and for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease compared to other forms of dementia.

Globally, around 10 million people are diagnosed with dementia each year, yet survival estimates often vary. To provide more clarity, researchers from the Netherlands reviewed 261 studies published between 1984 and 2024, involving over 5 million people with dementia (average age 79, 63% women). Their findings revealed that the average time to nursing home admission after a dementia diagnosis is just over three years. About 13% of patients were admitted within the first year, rising to 35% by three years and 57% by five years.

The researchers emphasized that their findings are observational and highlighted the need for more detailed, individualized studies. They suggested that future research should include patients at the time of diagnosis, considering personal, social, and clinical factors such as disease stage and comorbidities. Beyond survival rates, assessing functional outcomes and quality of life will be essential.

The study underscores the importance of developing healthcare strategies tailored to the unique needs of individuals with dementia and their families. By striving for more precise and context-sensitive insights, healthcare systems can better optimize care and improve the quality of life for affected individuals.