Cause of death in Alzheimer's disease.

Bronchopneumonia was the commonest cause of death in 84 elderly patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The cause of death as stated on the death certificate agreed with the pathological diagnosis in 77% of cases. In 30%, no mention of the presence of a dementia syndrome was recorded on the death certificate. An increased willingness to record the presence of a dementia syndrome and a higher autopsy rate would increase the accuracy of death certification in Alzheimer's disease.