US deaths from Alzheimer's disease rose by more than 50% from 1999 to 2014, and rates are expected to continue to rise, reflecting the nation's aging population and increasing life expectancy, researchers said on Thursday.

In addition, a larger proportion of people with Alzheimer's are dying at home rather than a medical facility, according to the report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Alzheimer’s is the sixth–leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 3.6% of all deaths in 2014, the report said.

Researchers have long predicted increased cases of Alzheimer's as more of the nation's baby boom generation passes the age of 65, putting them at higher risk for the age–related disease. The number of U.S. residents aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer's is expected to nearly triple to 13.8 million by 2050. According to the report published May 25 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), 93,541 people died from Alzheimer’s in the United States in 2014, a 54.5% increase compared with 1999.

During that period, the percentage of people who died from Alzheimer's in a medical facility fell by more than half to 6.6% in 2014, from 14.7% in 1999.

Meanwhile, the number of people with Alzheimer's who died at home increased to 24.9% in 2014, from 13.9% in 1999, researchers said.

The sharp increase in Alzheimer’s deaths coupled with the rising number of people with Alzheimer's dying at home have likely added to the burden on family members and others struggling to care for their stricken family members, they said.

The report suggests these individuals would benefit from services such as respite care and case management to ease the burden of caring for a person with Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's is the leading cause of dementia and affects 5.5 million adults in the United States. It is expected to affect 13.8 million U.S. adults over 65 by the year 2050.

—Jule Steenhuysen