While dementia is certainly not an inevitable outcome of getting old, the likelihood of developing the condition undoubtedly increases with age. Thus, as infectious diseases were vanquished in the UK, and mortality rates for cancer and heart conditions forced down, more and more people have been able to live to old age. (Life expectancy in the UK is now 79 for men and 83 for women.)
Ingawa shida ya akili kwa hakika si matokeo ya kuepukika ya kuzeeka, uwezekano wa kuendeleza hali hiyo bila shaka huongezeka kadiri umri unavyoongezeka. Kwa hivyo, magonjwa ya kuambukiza yaliposhindwa nchini Uingereza, na viwango vya vifo vya saratani na hali ya moyo kupunguzwa, watu wengi zaidi wameweza kuishi hadi uzee. (Matarajio ya maisha nchini Uingereza sasa ni 79 kwa wanaume na 83 kwa wanawake.)