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3. Deaths from dementia and Alzheimer's disease are increasing

In 2013, more than 7,500 Finns dies from dementia including Alzheimer's disease. The number of deaths from dementia has nearly doubled over the past ten years. The growth is also visible in the age-standardised figures (Figure 5), where the effects of the population structure are taken into consideration. The growth is in part the result of more specific diagnostics and changes in the definitions of causes of death (WHO guidelines). From 2005, Finland has adopted an international guideline that limits the use of pneumonia as a primary cause of death in connection with several chronic diseases. If a person is suffering from, for example, dementia in addition to pneumonia, dementia is selected as the primary cause of death in the statistics.

Dementia mortality has developed over the past twenty years in a similar fashion for both men and women. A majority of those who die from this disease group are, however, women. The higher share of deaths from dementia among women than men is caused by women living longer than men.

Figure 5. Age-standardised dementia mortality (icl. Alzheimer's disease) 1971 to 2013

Source: Causes of death, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Airi Pajunen 029 551 3605, Jari Hellanto 029 551 3291, kuolemansyyt@stat.fi

Director in charge: Riitta Harala

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Updated 30.12.2014