In the week ending June 25, there were 533 deaths in the state. 26.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.7% were from cancer and 2.1% were from COVID-19.
Studies show doctors and medical examiners may underreport Alzheimer's disease and dementia-related conditions as the underlying cause of death on death certificates, according to the National Institute on Aging.
Once infected, older adults with dementia are likely to develop a more severe and dangerous illness. The diseases which make an older adult more vulnerable to COVID-19 are age-associated chronic conditions, according to the Bright Focus Foundation.
Alabama top 10 causes of death in week ending June 25
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 141 | 26.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 105 | 19.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 31 | 5.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 30 | 5.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 29 | 5.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 2.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 11 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.9 |
Alerts Sign-up