NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 116 ■ March 2013

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Mortality From Alzheimer’s Disease in the United States: 

Data for 2000 and 2010

Betzaida Tejada-Vera, M.S.

Key findings 

Data from the National 

Vital Statistics System

• The age-adjusted death 

rate from Alzheimer’s disease 

increased by 39 percent from 

2000 through 2010 in the 

United States. 

• Alzheimer’s disease is the 

sixth leading cause of death in 

the United States and is the fifth 

leading cause among people 

aged 65 years and over. People 

aged 85 years and over have a 

5.4 times greater risk of dying 

from Alzheimer’s disease than 

people aged 75–84 years.

• The risk of dying from 

Alzheimer’s disease is 26 

percent higher among the 

non-Hispanic white population 

than among the non-Hispanic 

black population, whereas the 

Hispanic population has a 

30 percent lower risk than the 

non-Hispanic white population.

• In 2010, among all states and 

the District of Columbia, 31 

states showed death rates from 

Alzheimer’s disease that were 

above the national rate (25.1).

In 2010, Alzheimer’s disease was the underlying cause for a total of 83,494 

deaths and was classified as a contributing cause for an additional 26,488 

deaths (1). Mortality from Alzheimer’s disease has steadily increased during 

the last 30 years. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the 

United States and the fifth leading cause for people aged 65 years and over 

(1). An estimated 5.4 million persons in the United States have Alzheimer’s 

disease (2). The cost of health care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and 

other dementia was estimated to be 200 billion dollars in 2012, including 140 

billion dollars in costs to Medicare and Medicaid and is expected to reach 1.1 

trillion dollars in 2050 (2). 

Alzheimer’s disease mortality varies by age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, and 

geographic area. This report presents mortality data on Alzheimer’s disease 

based on data from the National Vital Statistics System from 2000 through 

2010, the most recent year for which detailed data are available.

Keywords: dementia • National Vital Statistics System • death rate • aging

Alzheimer’s disease mortality increased compared with selected major 

causes of death.

Figure 1. Percent change in age-adjusted death rates for selected causes of death: United States, 

2000 and 2010

SOURCE: National Vital Statistics System, Mortality.

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0

Percent

10 20 30 40 50

Alzheimer’s disease 38.7

-4.5 Diabetes mellitus

-31.6 Cancer

-30.5 Heart disease

-35.8 Stroke
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 116 ■ March 2013

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Compared with other selected causes, Alzheimer’s disease has been on the rise since the last 

decade. For 2000 and 2010, the age-adjusted death rate for Alzheimer’s disease increased by 

39 percent, whereas death rates for other major causes of death decreased (Figure 1). The largest 

decreases in death rates among selected major causes of death were observed for Stroke 

(36 percent), Heart disease (31 percent), and Cancer (32 percent).

Alzheimer’s disease mortality risk increased most for the oldest age 

groups.

The risk of dying from Alzheimer’s disease increases significantly with age. In 2010, the 

population aged 85 years and over was 50 times more likely to die from Alzheimer’s disease than 

the age group 65–74 years. Similarly, persons aged 85 years and over were 5 times more likely to 

die from Alzheimer’s disease than the age group 75–84 years (Figure 2). 

For 2000 and 2010, age-specific death rates from Alzheimer’s disease for the age group 65–74 

years increased 6 percent, for the age group 75–84 years the increase was 32 percent, and for the 

age group 85 years and over the increase was 48 percent. Rates per 100,000 population

SOURCE: National Vital Statistics System, Mortality.

Figure 2. Age-adjusted death rates for Alzheimer's disease: United States, 2000 and 2010

2000 2010

65–74 years 75–84 years

Age in years

85 years and over

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

18.7 19.8

139.6

184.5

667.7

987.1
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 116 ■ March 2013

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Alzheimer’s disease mortality is highest for the non-Hispanic white 

population and for women. 

In 2010, the age-adjusted death rate for Alzheimer’s disease was 26 percent higher for the nonHispanic white population than for the non-Hispanic black population. Similarly, the age-adjusted 

death rate is 43 percent higher for the non-Hispanic white population than for the Hispanic origin 

population (Figure 3). 

Overall, women had a 30 percent higher risk of dying (27.3 per 100,000 population) from 

Alzheimer’s disease than men (21.0). Non-Hispanic white women had the highest mortality 

rate from Alzheimer’s disease, followed by non-Hispanic black women. Likewise, among men, 

the highest age-adjusted death rates were for non-Hispanic white men (22.0), followed by non–

Hispanic black men (18.2). Hispanic men (16.6) and Hispanic women (19.5) had the lowest death 

rates for Alzheimer’s disease. Rates per 100,000 population

NOTE: Death rates for Hispanic origin should be interpreted with caution because of inconsistencies in reporting Hispanic origin on the death certificate as

compared with censuses, surveys, and birth certificates.

SOURCE: National Vital Statistics System, Mortality.

Figure 3. Age-adjusted death rates for Alzheimer’s disease, by Hispanic origin, race for non-Hispanic population, and sex: 

United States, 2010

Both sexes Male Female

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

All races and origin Hispanic Non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic black

25.1

21.0

27.3 26.4

22.0

28.9

20.9

18.2

22.0

18.5

16.6

19.5
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 116 ■ March 2013

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Alzheimer’s disease death rates varied widely across the states.

The age-adjusted death rates for Alzheimer’s disease do not show a clear geographic pattern 

across the states (Figure 4). In 2010, the states with the highest age-adjusted death rates were 

Washington (43.6), Tennessee (38.5), and North Dakota (37.2). The states with the lowest ageadjusted death rates were Hawaii (10.5), New York (11.3), and Nevada (14.2). Overall, 31 states 

had rates above the U.S. rate (25.1), whereas 19 states and the District of Columbia had rates 

lower than the U.S. rate.

Figure 4. Age-adjusted death rates for Alzheimer’s disease for the United States and each state, 2010

NOTE: The national rate is 25.1 deaths per 100,000 population. 

SOURCE: National Vital Statistics System, Mortality.

CA

AK

HI

25.2–43.6

10.5–24.9

ID

WA

OR

NV

AZ

ND

SD

NE

TX

KS MO

IA

MN

IL IN

MS

FL

OH

MI

PA

MD

DE

NJ

CT RI

MA

ME

VT

NH

MT

WY

UT

CO

NM

WI

DC

NY

SC

NC

GA

VA

43.6

25.9

10.5

35.3

31.1

26.8

24.2

25.2

14.2 24.9

16.8

37.2

28.5

35.9

19.3

27.2

30.1

26.8

18.1

20.9 27.8

32.9

23.4

32.6

28.8

11.3

30.3

29.7

20.0

34.7

24.4

25.3

28.3

24.0 22.6

17.1

21.9

17.7

18.7

28.5

16.8

26.9

30.8

21.2

AL

31.2

KY

33.5

WV

26.0

TN OK 38.5

26.1 AR

29.6

LA

30.7
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 116 ■ March 2013

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Summary

Mortality from Alzheimer’s disease in 2010 continued to increase among most groups described 

by sex, age, and race and Hispanic origin (1). An estimated 84,691 deaths in 2011 were from 

Alzheimer’s disease according to preliminary data (3). Alzheimer’s disease is currently the sixth 

leading cause of death in the United States. The overall age-adjusted death rate rose 39 percent 

from 18.1 in 2000 to 25.1 in 2010. The death rate for Alzheimer’s disease is higher for women 

than for men and higher for the non-Hispanic white population than for the non-Hispanic black 

population and the Hispanic origin population. Although continuing increases in Alzheimer’s 

disease mortality were observed for all discussed groups, differences in Alzheimer’s mortality 

across ethnic and racial groups are notable (1).

Definitions

Alzheimer’s disease: The most common form of dementia that causes decline in cognitive 

abilities and gradually worsens (4).

Cause-of-death classification: Medical information—including injury diagnoses and external 

causes of injury—entered on death certificates filed in the United States, classified and coded 

in accordance with the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health 

Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD–10) (5).

Death rates: Based on population estimates consistent with the April 1, 2010, census. Death rates 

for previous years—whenever shown or discussed in this report—are also based on populations 

revised to be consistent with the 2010 census. These population estimates are available on the 

National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) website, at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/bridged_

race.htm.

Age-adjusted death rates: Based on the 2000 U.S. standard population, these rates are useful 

when comparing different populations because they remove the potential bias that can occur 

when the populations being compared have different age structures. NCHS uses the “direct” 

method of standardization. See the Technical Notes of “Deaths: Final Data for 2009” (6) for more 

discussion.

Underlying cause of death: Defined by the World Health Organization as ‘‘the disease or injury 

which initiated the train of events leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident 

or violence which produced the fatal injury’’ (5). The underlying cause is selected from the 

conditions entered by the medical certifier in the cause-of-death section of the death certificate.

Leading causes of death: Sorted into rank order according to the number of deaths beginning with 

the largest number. See the Technical Notes of “Deaths: Final Data for 2009” (6) for more detail.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 116 ■ March 2013

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Data source and methods

The figures shown in this report reflect information that is collected on death certificates filed 

in each of the independent registration areas throughout the United States. Data are from the 

public-use multiple cause-of-death files from the National Vital Statistics System for years 

2000–2010 (1). Death rates are based on the population estimates consistent with the April 2010 

census (7). The preliminary mortality data for 2011 are based on a large portion (98.9 percent 

of the demographic file and 97.3 percent of the medical file) of the statistical records that are 

continuously received by NCHS from states’ vital registration system. Figures by race and ethnic 

group are based on the race and ethnic group reported for the decedent. See the Technical Notes 

of “Deaths: Final Data for 2009” (6) for more discussion of the data.

About the author

Betzaida Tejada-Vera is a statistician with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 

National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Vital Statistics, Mortality Statistics Branch.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 116 ■ March 2013

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References

1. National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System. Multiple cause-of-death 

files. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data_access/Vitalstatsonline.htm. 

2. Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures, Alzheimer’s & dementia. Vol 

8, Issue 2. 2012. Available from: http://www.alz.org/downloads/facts_figures_2012.pdf. 

3. Hoyert DL, Xu JQ. Deaths: Preliminary data for 2011. National vital statistics reports; vol 61 

no 6. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2012. Available from: http://www.

cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr61/nvsr61_06.pdf.

4. Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center. National Institute on Aging. Available 

from: http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/topics/alzheimers-basics. Accessed on Dec 3, 2012.

5. World Health Organization. International statistical classification of diseases and related health 

problems, tenth revision, 2nd edition. Geneva, Switzerland. 2004.

6. Kochanek KD, Xu JQ, Murphy SL, Miniño AM, Kung H. Deaths: Final data for 2009. 

National vital statistics reports; vol 60 no 3. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health 

Statistics. 2011.

7. National Center for Health Statistics. Bridged-race population estimates. April 1, 2010. 

Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/bridged_race/data_documentation.htm#april2010.
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NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 116 ■ March 2013

Suggested citation

Tejada-Vera B. Mortality from Alzheimer’s 

disease in the United States: Data for 

2000 and 2010. NCHS data brief, no 116. 

Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health 

Statistics. 2013.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D., Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Vital Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., Director

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ISSN 1941–4927 (Print ed.)

ISSN 1941–4935 (Online ed.)

DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 2013–1209

CS238275