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