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To some degree it depends on what type of dementia one has.

My Aunt was never diagnosed with any specific type of dementia. We noticed it in her early- to mid- 80s. She lived at home with her older sister and she lived to 1 month shy of 101, and she only passed because she got out of bed in the middle of the night, fell and broke her hip, passing away while still in rehab (reason unknown).

I have read on this forum that some people with vascular dementia and Lewy Body have shorter trajectories. My friend's Mom, who was diagnosed with ALZ in her late 50s lived for almost 15 more years.

There are so many other variables, like their overall health prior to diagnosis and quality of their care after they are diagnosed.

All this to say not sure there is such a thing as "typically" or even generally. Too many other factors impact it.
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Reply to Geaton777
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No matter if it lasts a week or years, depending on how involved your are in this person's care, or how much it pains you to see this loved one endure this horror, it may feel like 10 lifetimes.

Fifteen years from diagnosis 'til his death. Fifteen years of increasing vigilance, The last 5 years were very tough. The last 3 years were tougher. The last 2 years were heart, mind, soul, and body shredding, but you must and will stay strong.

You get a great education. Afterwards your perspective may change, hopefully for the better about most things.
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Reply to MicheleDL
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Until death. You will receive stats if you go in and ask on the internet, but they will vary widely in real life because each person is as individual as his or her own fingerprint.
If a person enters the latter stages of dementia as phsyically active, well in body, then that person is likely to live much longer than a debilitated 90 year old with diabetes, if you get my meaning here.

In your case, your question about your own senior is best addressed by the MD involved with the patient. My guess is you have already asked? Because it would be unusual to ask a mess of strangers the question about someone they never met. I would bet the doc involved refuses to give you much of an answer as they will usually refuse to make a guess, so many guesses going wrong in life. They will often say something to the effect "Well...................typically...............for someone Irma's age and in Irma's condition the late stage lasts 1 to 3 years".

I would say, with all things dementia? Expect the unexpected. My brother, recently diagnosed with probably early Lewy's and with all the guestimates lined up like ducks in a row, got a teeny sore on his shin that went septic and died in two weeks.
Nothing is predictable in life, it seems.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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