In the week ending Sept. 24, there were 619 deaths in the state. 25.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.4% were from cancer and 6.8% 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. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 160 | 25.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 108 | 17.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 43 | 6.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 34 | 5.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 32 | 5.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 20 | 3.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 17 | 2.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 1.9 |
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