how does dementia kill you

Dementia primarily causes death by progressively damaging the brain, which eventually affects the parts responsible for vital bodily functions such as breathing, heart rate, and swallowing. In the late stages, this damage can lead to the failure of these essential systems. Additionally, people with advanced dementia are prone to complications such as aspiration pneumonia (caused by inhaling food or liquids into the lungs), infections like urinary tract infections, malnutrition, dehydration, and falls, all of which can be fatal. Aspiration pneumonia is one of the most common causes of death in people with dementia because impaired swallowing and coughing reflexes lead to lung infections. These infections are often difficult to fight due to weakened immune systems in dementia patients. Death may result directly from the brain's degeneration or indirectly from these secondary complications.