When we look at the top causes of death around the world, it is no surprise that coronary heart disease tops the chart. 

What may come as a surprise, however, is how high Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia rank on those lists. After all, how does somebody die of dementia? 

Finland is a small country with a population just over 5.5 million people. However, it ranks fourth in the world for deaths related to dementia. 

Alzheimer’s and dementia is listed second on the top causes of death, with coronary heart disease taking first place. These statistics are the exact same as the United States, with Canada placing Alzheimer’s and dementia third after coronary heart disease and lung cancer.

These diseases are all related, with the tiny arteries and vessels in our brains being affected just the same as our coronary arteries due to unhealthy diets and lifestyles.

The World Health Organization reported that over 9,600 thousand deaths in Finland were due to Alzheimer’s and dementia in 2018. That totals 20% of all deaths! 

When looking at possible causes, it has been suggested that mold has a neurotoxic effect on brain cells. Additionally, the presence of cyanobacteria, or blue algae, in lakes can cause neurotoxins due to the increase in mercury. Nordic countries also have low levels of selenium in their soil, which is a trace mineral. Selenium deficiencies may reduce the quantity as effectiveness of glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase, which have the ability to protect against neurotoxins. In order to increase your consumption of selenium safely, you can try incorporating foods like brazil nuts, walnuts, and small fish with short lifespans to avoid mercury. 

The northeastern region of Finland, in the province of North Karelia, reportedly had the highest rate of heart attacks in the world in the 1970s. 

A popular dish in that region is Karjanlanpaisti—a simple dish of meat and broth. A diet heavily reliant on meat can very clearly have adverse health effects. This high rate of deaths from heart attacks was thwarted when the people were encouraged to eat a more balanced diet, rich in vegetables and plant based foods. 

Since coronary heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and dementia are so intrinsically linked, it is vital for us to consider them simultaneously when making health and lifestyle decisions. 

It is no wonder that Alzheimer’s and dementia rank so high on the leading causes of death—however, once we collectively start making changes in our diets and lifestyles, those numbers will hopefully drop.

If you’re interested in reading more about Karelia, you can check out the article by Dan Buettner here. 

Were you surprised to hear about Finland’s top causes of death, and how it ranks compared to the rest of the world?