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What Are the Five Most Common Diseases of the Elderly?
What are the five most common diseases of the elderly?
In 2019, the five most common causes of death for people aged 65 to 74 were cancer, heart disease, chronic lung diseases (COPD), diseases that affect blood flow to the brain (cerebrovascular diseases) and diabetes. For 75- to 84-year-olds, the causes were the same, but diabetes was bumped up by Alzheimer’s disease.


Cancer and heart disease are both very common, so it’s no wonder that they feature so prominently on this list. But it’s also important to note that these conditions do not cause all deaths, Dr Rosenfeld says.

COPD and emphysema, for example, can be caused by smoking, so it’s important to quit. These two lung diseases often go hand in hand and can worsen over time if left untreated.

Strokes are another of the more serious illnesses that can affect older adults. This is because the brain’s blood supply can be cut off, leading to a variety of symptoms including headaches, difficulty speaking and memory problems.

Dementia and other neurological conditions are also very common, especially in the older generation. These include vascular dementia, which develops as a result of a stroke or blood vessel damage.

There is also a rarer condition called motor neurone disease, which affects the nerve cells in the brain. It is very hard to diagnose, but it can have a severe impact on the quality of life of those affected.

Those with the above diseases can expect to spend more time in hospital, where they are at risk of infections that they cannot fight off on their own. Moreover, their mobility will decrease, making them more likely to fall and get injured. This is why preventing falls among older people is so vital. fall button for elderly

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