In the week ending June 17, there were 1,029 deaths in the state. 25.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.9% were from cancer and less than 1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.4% of deaths were from Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
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 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 259 | 25.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 194 | 18.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 55 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 40 | 3.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 39 | 3.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 29 | 2.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 26 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1 |
Alabama Dementia deaths in week ending June 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 86 | 8.4 |
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