Is it possible to die of 'old age'? I understand that as you get older, you're more likely to get cancer, Alzehemiers, etc, but is there such a thing as dying of 'old age'?

Question

Is it possible to die of 'old age'? I understand that as you get older, you're more likely to get cancer, Alzehemiers, etc, but is there such a thing as dying of 'old age'?

This is a good question. This lecture is very informative, please read it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/reith2001/lecture1.shtml

In most states, death of "old age" is not a permitted reason on a death certificate. Yet some doctors believe it can be a cause when the elderly deceased has multiple causes of death, yet none of them serious enough to kill him.

For lively discussions of this question, check out these sites.

http://static.doh.wa.gov/ehsphl/CHS/chs-data/Public/Elderly.pdf#search=%22death%20old%20age%22

http://yarchive.net/med/causes_of_death.html

Answer 1

The concept of dying of "old age" is not recognized as a specific cause of death according to medical standards. In most cases, when an elderly person passes away, the cause of death is attributed to an underlying condition or disease such as cancer, heart disease, or respiratory failure. While it is true that as we age, we become more susceptible to various health issues, there is typically a specific cause that can be identified.

However, it is worth noting that on some death certificates, doctors may list "old age" as a contributing factor or a description of the overall condition of the deceased person. This is usually done when multiple causes of death are present, but none of them alone were significant enough to directly result in death.

If you are interested in further exploring this topic, I recommend reading the provided links. The BBC Reith Lecture discusses the concept of death from aging, while the other websites offer different perspectives and further information on the subject.