Can i die from dementia

Someone who has severe memory loss might not take spiritual comfort from sharing family memories or understand when others express what an important part of their life this person has been. Palliative care or hospice can be helpful in many ways to families of people with dementia. Being touched or massaged can be soothing. Listening to music, white noise, or sounds from nature seem to relax some people and lessen their agitation. End-of-life care decisions are more complicated for caregivers if the dying person has not expressed the kind of care he or she would prefer.

Quality of life is an important issue when making healthcare decisions for people with dementia. For example, medicines are available that may delay or keep symptoms from becoming worse for a little while. If the drug has serious side effects, they may be even more likely to decide against it. When making care decisions for someone else near the end of life, consider the goals of care and weigh the benefits, risks, and side effects of the treatment.

This means that caregivers and family members may be faced with very difficult decisions about how treatments that maintain physical health, such as installing a pacemaker, fit within the care goals. Dementia often progresses slowly and unpredictably. When dementia has taken its toll on a person and they are nearing death, the signs and symptoms are a defining part of their everyday being. They are unable to take care of themselves and require constant supervision. Nor can they make decisions or communicate their most basic needs.

Their body cannot control simple functions such as bowel movements, speaking, or even swallowing. One of the reasons dementia leads to death is because of the characteristics of this stage. There are severe physical needs that if left uncared for, will cause the person to die. Although they are still conscious to some extent, they are no longer able to function on their own.

Because of the nature of advanced dementia, the brain cells increasingly die off which affects every aspect of the individual. Not only does the person go through a major decrease in quality of life, but the reality is their body also begins to slowly decay. One of the biggest causes of death with dementia is co-existing or underlying conditions. Many people with dementia also have other medical problems that dementia either worsens or contributes to.

For example, someone with heart disease or previous heart attack might have a harder time with dementia because their body will not be able to sustain them as well as someone with an otherwise normal medical history. Another person with osteoarthritis might experience more severe physical symptoms during the mid or final stages of dementia as their bone mass is already dwindling.

Pre-existing mental health issues can also play a huge role in dementia progression. Health conditions can result in sooner death in someone with dementia. As symptoms accumulate, a person loses touch with their environment and ability to sustain health. Dementia is fatal because it eventually results in total deterioration of brain cells and proteins responsible for human functioning.

There is no way to keep living an active life if the physical matter in the brain is dying off day by day. That might sound bleak, but with dementia, it is important to know the reality of the condition and prepare to make the most out of the remaining time one does have.

Since all stages of dementia cause impairment to thinking and reasoning, accidents are one of the most widely seen causes of death among patients. It is not uncommon for people with dementia to forget things like leaving their stove or oven on, resulting in a gas leak or fire hazard.

Additionally, accidents might happen during everyday tasks that cause bad falls, slips, or broken bones. Drowning in the bath or dangerous improper use of household appliances can lead to disaster.

Those with later stage dementia eventually cannot swallow food and water on their own. This is another major cause of death. People can choke and die. Something called aspiration pneumonia is rampant in dementia cases. This is a type of pneumonia that develops after someone gets food or liquid stuck inside of their lungs.

Without realizing it, patients can inhale food particles when eating. Over time, these particles cause irritation and infection inside of the lungs.

When sickness becomes too severe, fluid builds up and the lungs cannot breathe anymore. When a person with dementia cannot take care of themselves, their living conditions can become unsanitary.

Some patients have been hospitalized for infected wounds left unaddressed, blood infections, skin diseases, or living with harmful mold or pests in the home. The onset can be between the ages of years old , on average. It results from a loss in the connection between neurons chemical messengers in the brain.

Symptoms include memory loss, strange behavior, and language complications. This stage is also called end-stage dementia or advanced dementia. In this stage, their symptoms become severe. A person will have problems with everyday functions. These include bathing, dressing, eating, and going to the bathroom. At this point, your loved one won't be able to walk or sit up without help. They will become bedbound and need care all the time.

They will also lose the ability to speak and show facial expressions, like smiling. This change can be especially challenging for loved ones to see. A person in the late stage of dementia is at risk for many medical complications.

Because they're unable to move, they're especially high risk for certain conditions. They could get a urinary tract infection UTI or pneumonia an infection of the lungs.

They can also experience skin breakdown , pressure ulcers bedsores , or blood clots. Trouble swallowing, eating, and drinking leads to weight loss, dehydration , and malnutrition.

This further increases their risk of infection. In the end, most people with late-stage dementia die from underlying dementia or a related complication. For example:. It's important to know that late-stage dementia is a terminal illness and can lead to death.

In these cases, the death certificate may list dementia as the cause of death. Someone with end-stage dementia may die from an infection or other medical complication.

But it is their severe dementia that led to the complication and made them too weak to fight it off. There are different types of dementia that someone can have. In the beginning stages of dementia, symptoms vary depending on the type of dementia. As time goes on and dementia progresses, the symptoms start to be the same among all types of dementia. People call this late-stage or end-stage dementia. During this stage, your loved one may be at a very high risk of complications.

People with end-stage dementia often die from a complication related to their dementia. While advanced dementia has no cure and ultimately leads to death, you can still help your loved one. You can provide comfort and play an active role in their care. Hospice care is available and encouraged for individuals with late-stage dementia. Hospice focuses on pain relief and managing your loved one's symptoms. Comfort feeding and mouth care are some of the strategies.

Even engaging in pleasurable activities like music or calming touch can help. With this approach, you can be proactive in providing love and support. You can nurture your loved ones without putting them through unnecessary medical treatments. When it comes to Alzheimer's, the MIND diet has shown promise in reducing risk and promoting brain health.