MORTALITY FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE IN BRAZIL FROM 2010 TO 2017

Introduction. The world population is aging and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), worldwide, the proportion of people aged 60 and over is growing rapidly, however, as life expectancy increases, neurodegenerative diseases and dementia may appear, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), a progressive and fatal disorder resulting from the death of hippocampal and cholinergic neurons that are responsible for the functions of memory, learning, emotional control, reasoning and behavior. These changes are characterized by loss of subcortical and cortical neurons, and marked atrophy of the local cerebral cortex where nerve cells in the brain control memory, reasoning, and judgment. Moreover, it is believed that this pathology has a multifactorial etiology, which can be determined by risk factors such as gender, age, environmental and genetic factors, low educational level and inflammatory reactions. Goal. To verify the prevalence of deaths in Brazil from Alzheimer’s Disease in the period from 2010 to 2017. Method. A cross-sectional study was carried out by surveying the numbers of cases of death caused by Alzheimer’s disease in the regions of Brazil from 2010 to 2017, available in the DATASUS / TABNET database, using the following variables for the research: region, gender, age group and ethnicity. Results. During the period from 2010 to 2017, a total of 121,232 numbers of cases of deaths from Alzheimer’s Disease were recorded throughout Brazil. The Southeast region had a higher prevalence with 55.85% in relation to the number of deaths in the other regions. It was observed that the female gender was predominant in relation to the male gender with 64.58% of cases, while in the age group 74.31% had its prevalence at the age of 80 years or older, and finally in the ethnicity, there was a predominance. 74.36% in white people. Conclusion. The increase in life expectancy, is one of the risk factors for the development and death due to AD, especially in the age above 80 years, so it is of fundamental importance the creation of public policies that point and allow a real increase regarding to the care provided to the elderly, because even being a disease that has no cure, the diagnosis in its early stage for the delay of the process and symptoms is paramount, besides offering greater support, well-being and quality of life for these patients and relatives, enjoying a long life with respect and dignity.