Eli5 why is the reason why people with Alzheimer’s Disease die?

Question

What fails in the body?

In: 4352

Answer 1

Aspiration pneumonia is one of the most common causes of death amongst people with Alzheimer’s disease. It is caused when food or liquid is breathed in and goes down the windpipe rather than the food pipe. It’s common in late stages of dementia and Alzheimer’s, when the brain starts slipping on how to do basic unconscious functions, like swallowing properly.

Between the old age, weakened physical and mental state, being in a senior care ward where diseases spread easily, etc, a bad cold or fall can be a lot more serious for someone with advanced Alzheimer’s.

Edit: there’s a lot of people in the same sad club. Misery loves company.