1 in 3 Elderly Die With Dementia

A new report finds that one in three older adults dies with some form of dementia, including Alzheimer's, USA Today reports. By 2010, such deaths were up 68% from a decade prior, according to the Alzheimer's Association, which used Medicare and Medicaid reports to determine the numbers. During the same period, deaths from heart disease, HIV/AIDS, and stroke went down. In all, heart failure was the No. 1 contributor to death, followed by dementia.

The report is raising concerns about the cost of care: It found that payments for care will vastly increase by 2050, and that health care costs for stressed caregivers are also likely to increase. In addition, it found Medicare costs are almost three times higher for seniors with dementia, while Medicaid costs are 19 times higher. "Urgent, meaningful action is needed, particularly as more and more people age into greater risk for developing the disease," says the head of the advocacy group. (More elderly stories.)