Expert: Paula Damgaard - 3/21/2006

Question
Say an 84 year old female has Alzheimer's, or some similar dementia, that is rapidly accelerating. What can  normally be expected, and on what timeline? I know there are many variables, so "ballpark" is understandable.
thanks

Answer
There are so many factors that contribute to the "timeline" that it is very hard to say.  Depends on how long the person has been diagnosed. How is her health in general?  

If she is healthy she could live for another 10 years.  If she has other medical problems it will depend on how vigorously she is treated.  Used to be that pneumonia was the old people's friend because it was a "nice easy way" to die.  Now with all the high powered antibiotics people are being made well more often.  So we end up giving people quantity of life, without any thought into what kind of quality we are giving them.  

Ballpark: I would say five to eight years not knowing anything else about her.  

Hope that answers your question!  Paula