Alzheimer's disease and other senile dementias account for 60 percent of nursing home populations.

These diseases account for 71 per cent of deaths in those aged 65 +.

Age, disease and drought possibly accounted for the loss, he said.

War, disease or climatic change could account for such a throwback.

The four chronic diseases together account for over 50% of deaths in the world.

Together, these three diseases account for 10% of global mortality.

Communicable diseases accounted for about 60 percent of all deaths.

And, by the late 1990s, degenerative diseases accounted for more than 60 percent of all deaths.

These diseases account for a large proportion of serious illness, but up to now have had only a small research budget.

By 2020, chronic diseases will account for nearly three-fourths of all deaths worldwide, the report said.