Mortality patterns related to stroke and dementia among older adults in the U. S.: a CDC WONDER analysis from 1999 to 2024

Abstract

Introduction Blood flow impairment due to stroke substantially causes neuronal loss, ultimately leading to cognitive decline. Dementia is a progressive neurocognitive disorder that represents a major public health challenge worldwide. Methods We analyzed stroke and dementia related mortality trends among older adults using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database from 1999 to 2024. Age-Adjusted Mortality Rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 were calculated and categorized by demographics and region. Joinpoint regression was used to estimate Annual Percent Change (APC) and Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC). Results A total of 965,793 deaths due to stroke and dementia among older adults aged ≥65 years were recorded. Among the subgroups of dementia, unspecified dementia reported the greatest mortality. The AAMR observed a steep incline from 69.34 in 1999 to 99.25 in 2024. Older females observed higher overall AAMR than older males. Racially, Non-Hispanic Black population had the highest overall AAMR. Regionally, the highest overall AAMR was recorded by the Southern U. S. Despite COVID-19, the post pandemic era observed increasing mortality. Conclusion Our cohort exhibited a rise in mortality rates among elderly with stroke and dementia, underscoring the need for preventive strategies, and targeted interventions in vulnerable populations and regions.