The Odds

• 20% of Americans die of cancer, peaking at age 65
• 25% die of organ failure, usually heart or lung, peaking at age 75
• 40% die after extended frailty and/or dementia, generally around age 85

(from geriatrician Dr Joanne Lynn, in the New York Times, July 8, 2008)

Causes of the 2,423,712 American deaths in 2004:

heart 25%
cancer 23%
cerebrovascular 6%
respiratory 5%
accidents 5%
alzheimers 3%
diabetes 3%
flu & pneumonia 2%
kidneys 2%
septicemia 1%
suicide 1%
liver 1%
hypertension 1%
parkinsons 1%
murder 1%
all other 19%

(from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control)