Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease Leading Cause Of Death In UK Women

In a new report by Public Health England (PHE), the biggest cause of death among women in the UK seems to be Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Whereas the leading cause of death in men in the UK is heart disease.

The report uses population health data to come up with the answers. They have also said in the report that the life expectancy of women is 83 years, and added that women spend about one third of their lives ill, while men only suffer for one-fifths of their life.

Dementia has overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death https://t.co/tsVql8Yl62 #HealthProfileForEngland pic.twitter.com/JKjfX1mvZs

— PublicHealthEngland (@PHE_uk) July 13, 2017

The rise in deaths due to Alzheimer’s and dementia also means that there is a decline of other diseases in women. The report says, “Since 2001, death rates from heart disease and stroke have halved for both males and females. Over the same time deaths from dementia and Alzheimer’s have increased by 60% in males and have doubled in females.”

Now, the UK is also started to focus their medical and health research on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Previously, since the leading cause of death among men and women was heart disease and cancer, the research money was focused on these two fields. They are making an effort to fuel money into research for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease now.

The report also sheds light on the fact that where you live in the UK makes a difference in your life span and whether you will have good or poor health. In most deprived areas, men and women can expect a life expectancy which is 20 years short.

After Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, the leading cause of death for women remains to be heart disease, followed by stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease and lung cancer.

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Pic credits: UEA

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Read more stories by Nikhita Sanotra