[Mortalidad por enfermedad de Alzheimer en México de 1980 a 2014].

Background: Dementias are rarely considered to be a main cause of death; therefore there are only few studies on Alzheimer's mortality covering long periods.

Objective: To describe mortality from Alzheimer's disease in México for the period from 1980 to 2014.

Method: Cross-sectional study where, with official mortality data in Mexico according to codes 331.0 and G30, respectively, of the 9 and 10 revisions of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, crude and standardized Alzheimer's disease mortality rates were obtained, both nationally and by states.

Results: From almost being inexistent, deaths from Alzheimer's disease went to a rate of 65.12 per 1000 females and 43.66 per 1000 males in the 2010-2014 five-year period. Throughout the study period, the age group with highest mortality rates for this cause were those older than 80 years, with 0.29 per 100,000 population in 1980-1984 and 55.02 in 100,000 in the 2010-2014 period. The region with the highest mortality was the northwest, with rates higher than 2.28 per 100,000 population.

Conclusions: Mortality from Alzheimer's disease is a public health problem in Mexico with a growing trend, especially among women and older adults. Early diagnostic measures and opportune treatment are required in primary care in order to reduce this problem.