Alzheimer's Disease Moves Up to Sixth Leading Cause of Death in the United States

Usually, moving up the ladder is considered a good thing -- but not when the rungs are the top leading causes of death in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics, Alzheimer's disease has moved from the seventh to the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, passing up diabetes, which used to hold the sixth place spot on the list.

While Alzheimer's deaths are on the rise -- the CDC estimated that 72,914 people died of the disease in 2006 -- death rates for other conditions are declining. For example, between 2005 and 2006, deaths from stroke decreased 6.4%, and deaths from diabetes went down 5.3%.

I was happy to hear that death rates for other diseases -- many of which contribute to other types of dementia -- are declining. But why do you think that deaths from Alzheimer's are increasing? More importantly, what should be done about it? Post a comment to this blog, or start a new discussion in the forum.

Photo © Alzheimer's Disease Education & Referral Center