Survival in Atherosclerotic and Senile Dementia

Abstract

A five year cohort of patients over 60 years old who were admitted to a mental hospital with a diagnosis of senile or atherosclerotic dementia was followed up. Seventy-five patients were found in these categories, constituting 24 per cent of all admissions over the age of 60. The date of death was ascertained in all cases. The general view that patients with atherosclerotic dementia live longer than those with senile dementia is confirmed. Patients in both categories, and particularly females with senile dementia, probably lived a little longer than might have been expected in the light of the existing literature.