Key clinical point: Vital statistics likely underestimate the mortality burden of dementia on older adults in the United States, as well as the burden of cognitive impairment without dementia.

Major finding: Dementia was the underlying cause of death based on death certificates in 5% of the study population, compared with the 14% identified based on participant interviews, showing an underestimation by a factor of 2.7.

Study details: The data come from a prospective cohort study of 7,352 noninstitutionalized adults aged 70 to 99 years who were interviewed directly or by proxy; baseline dementia and cognitive impairment without dementia were identified using the Health and Retirement Study measures.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging. Lead author Dr. Stokes disclosed grant support from Ethicon.