Dementia and life expectancy: planning for the future

The later stage of dementia

Understanding the signs of late-stage dementia can help ensure a person gets the right level of care and support. For example, those living with advanced dementia are especially prone to infection, constipation, and skin ulcers – which can put their life in danger if treatment is delayed.

Sometimes infection and illness can lead to delirium – which can cause people to become confused, resist help, and experience hallucinations. The cause of delirium requires urgent medical attention, and some people may not recover completely from the effects.  Signs of late-stage dementia include – 

• Speaking in single words, or repeated phrases that don’t make sense
• Not being able to understand what people are saying to them, or things that are happening around them 
• Needing help with most daily tasks
• Eating less because they find it difficult to swallow, or have less of an appetite 
• Bowel and bladder incontinence 
• Being unable to take part in simple physical activity such as walking, standing, or sitting upright

 

How long will a person with dementia live for?

As with many life-limiting conditions, it’s difficult to state an ‘average’ life span. Some people can live for decades with dementia while others may go through severe decline in a few months. It depends on a huge range of factors including the type of dementia they’ve been diagnosed with, their overall health, and the age of diagnosis. 

A person’s sex may be a factor too. In the UK there are more cases of dementia in women than in men, however women tend to live longer than men too. For women, the average life expectancy without dementia is 82 years old, compared to 79 years old for men. And, nearly 3 in 4 people over 90 are women. 

Life expectancy estimates do exist, however these are based on previous studies of patients with dementia. They shouldn’t be relied on as fact because the dementia experience varies from person to person. 

• Alzheimer’s disease –  This is the most common type of dementia causing condition. According to The Alzheimer’s Society, Life expectancy estimates are usually around eight to 10 years – but are often less for those diagnosed in their 80s or 90s. However some people have lived with Alzheimer’s disease for 20+ years. 

• Vascular dementia – This is one of the most common forms of dementia, with an estimated average life span of around five years – according to experts at The Alzheimer’s Society. It’s lower than the estimate for Alzheimer’s because it’s closely linked to cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke. 

• Dementia with lewy bodies –  The estimated average life expectancy for lewy body dementia is estimated to be around six years, however some people have lived with this type of dementia for closer to 20 years. One key factor is mobility symptoms such as tremors and muscle weakness can increase the risk of falls, which may cause serious injury and infection.

• Frontotemporal dementia – Frontotemporal dementia is an uncommon form of dementia, so there is less data available on life expectancy. However, according to the National Institute of Aging, the majority of people live with this dementia for around six to eight years.

• Young-onset dementia – Any of the above forms of dementia can be diagnosed in people between the ages of 30 and 60 – this is called young-onset dementia. As such, life expectancy can range from a few years to decades. According to Dementia UK, it can take twice the time to diagnose the onset of dementia in younger people because it’s sometimes mistaken for things like depression, stress or the menopause. Young-onset dementia can sometimes progress much faster than dementias that occur in later life. 

It’s important to know that life expectancy estimates are improving all the time. Many people are being diagnosed earlier, receiving better treatments and care. 

 

How to get a better idea of your individual dementia journey

Your GP should always be your first point of contact when it comes to understanding and preparing for the future. 

After a dementia diagnosis your GP will closely track your cognitive status, physical abilities and how you get on with daily activities during your annual review. If your symptoms change suddenly, you can make an appointment with them anytime for support. 

While there’s no cure, there are things you can try to keep your mind active, and reduce risk factors for associated conditions. 

If you have a history of low mental health, your doctor may suggest starting a form of antidepressant. Depression and anxiety can be common for those living with dementia, particularly vascular dementia. 

In older people, depressive symptoms can include difficulty getting enough quality sleep, feeling agitated, and body aches. In the later stages of dementia people with depression can become very tearful and go through periods of weight-loss. 

Because these symptoms can be damaging, your GP may encourage you to try a form of talking therapy if you’re in the early stages of dementia. While dementia can make it more difficult to communicate and reason, having a safe space to talk to a professional counsellor or therapist without judgment can be comforting. 

There are also groups across the UK that organise activities to help strengthen the mental abilities of people living with dementia. Memory cafes offer free arts and crafts, music, and singing sessions that may help people to maintain cognitive skills.