What do Americans aged 85 and over die of most often?
In the 12 months through June 2025, heart disease was the leading cause of death for Americans aged 85 and over, at 3,759 deaths per 100,000 people that age, more than twice the rate for cancer (1,631). Stroke (1,064) and Alzheimer disease (1,039) came next. The numbers are provisional.
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Source and date
- Data as of
- Published
The data
| Cause of death | Deaths per 100,000 people aged 85 and over in a year |
|---|---|
| Heart disease | 3,759.1 |
| Cancer | 1,630.7 |
| Stroke | 1,064.4 |
| Alzheimer disease | 1,039.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 567.8 |
| Unintentional injuries | 428.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 285.1 |
| Diabetes | 271.4 |
| Kidney disease | 257.2 |
| Hypertension | 247.9 |