Patterns of mortality from types of dementia in the United States, 1971 and 1973-1978.

In the first analysis of US mortality data for different types of dementia, we searched all death certificates for the years 1971 and 1973 through 1978 for the diagnosis of senile and presenile dementia and for senility. The age-adjusted mortality rates for both types of dementia were higher for deaths with these conditions than due to them. Other diseases were listed as the underlying cause of death in most patients who died with dementia. Mortality rates were generally higher in men for both types of dementia; higher for whites for senile and presenile dementia, but higher for nonwhites for senility. Between 1971 and 1978, there was an increase in the age-adjusted mortality rates for senile and presenile dementia and a decline for senility. Age-specific mortality rates for both types of dementia increased exponentially with age, with no evidence of bimodality.