There were 15 deaths from Alzheimer’s disease reported in Nevada in the week ending Dec. 17, making up 2.7% of total deaths by all causes in Nevada, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 546 deaths in the state. 21.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.4% were from cancer and 9.3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.9% 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.
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 116 | 21.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 95 | 17.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 36 | 6.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 29 | 5.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 27 | 4.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 22 | 4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 19 | 3.5 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 15 | 2.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 14 | 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.8 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 43 | 7.9 |
