Where women have many pregnancies the risk of related death over the course of a lifetime is compounded. Health of older people 47. Worldwide, circulatory disease is the leading cause of death and disability in people over 65 years. Data from France and the United States show breast cancer on average deprives women of at least 10 years of life expectancy, while prostate cancer reduces male average life expectancy by only one year. The risk of developing dementia rises steeply with age in people over 60 years.
Women are more likely to suffer than men because of their greater longevity.