Taudorf L, Nørgaard A, Brodaty H, et al. - This is the first nationwide study examining the influence of somatic and psychiatric diseases on mortality in dementia compared with the general elderly population. Utilizing a cohort study design, nationwide registry data from 2006 to 2015 on dementia and psychiatric and somatic comorbidities defined by the Charlson Comorbidity Index were linked. The impact of chronic conditions was evaluated according to mortality rate ratios in all Danish residents aged ≥ 65 years with and without dementia. The population included 1,518,917 people (women: 820,758; men: 698,159), of whom 114,109 people were registered with dementia. In both people with and without dementia, having a high comorbidity load was linked to a higher mortality rate. Even after adjusting for psychiatric and chronic somatic comorbidities, dementia-related mortality remained elevated. The results indicate that dementia conditions alone are associated with an increased risk of death, which could be exacerbated by comorbidities.