In the week ending Sept. 10, there were 603 deaths in the state. 25.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.6% were from cancer and 9.1% 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 Sept. 10
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 156 | 25.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 130 | 21.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 40 | 6.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 37 | 6.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 34 | 5.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 27 | 4.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 3.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 18 | 3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 1.7 |
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