In the week ending Aug. 20, there were 644 deaths in the state. 22.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.9% were from cancer and 10.6% 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 Aug. 20
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 146 | 22.7 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 141 | 21.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 40 | 6.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 35 | 5.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 33 | 5.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 33 | 5.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 28 | 4.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 16 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.6 |
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