Latest Trustworthy News from Dr. Mercola - delivered straight to your inbox!
My New Book is Now A Best Seller | Order Now My New Book is Now A Best Seller | Order Now

Dementia Now Leading Cause of Death

  • November 15, 2016

Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, has now overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death, with almost twice as many women succumbing as men, BBC reports. While this specific report was for England and Wales, the U.S. has its own set of statistics that show that dementia is an alarming disease with no known cure.

More than a half million Americans die from this disease each year, making it the third leading cause of death in the U.S., right behind heart disease and cancer. The term “dementia” covers an array of neurological diseases and conditions that develop when neurons in your brain die or cease to function normally. The death or malfunction of neurons causes changes in memory, behavior and ability to think.

An estimated 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's. By 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's may reach nearly 14 million.

The staggering numbers have scientists around the globe working fiendishly in an effort to find a cure. So far, one thing they have learned is that those who were severely deficient in vitamin D had a 125 percent higher risk of developing some form of dementia compared to those with normal levels.

This is news to ponder, since 95 percent of seniors have also been shown to be lacking in vitamin D. While recent findings suggest levels of vitamin D below 20 ng/ml increases your risk for dementia, I believe 20 ng/ml is too low; the optimal range for general health is likely 50-70 ng/ml.