A better understanding of the harms caused by dimentia has contributed to a rise in the deaths attributed to the condition PADementia has overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death for the first time in England and Wales, official figures show. An ageing population and better understanding of the harms caused by the condition meant that 11.6 per cent of deaths are now attributed to dementia, compared to 11.5 for heart disease. Women are much more likely to die from dementia as they live longer than men. Last year 41,283 deaths in England and Wales were attributed to dementia in women, 15.2 per cent of the total compared to 20,403 in men. In men, heart disease remains the most deadly condition, killing 36,731, or 14.3 per cent of the total, compared to 24,987…

Source: The Times November 14, 2016 12:00 UTC