There were 20 deaths with Alzheimer’s disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Nevada during the week ending Aug. 27, 2022, a 66.7% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 27, 2022, there were 535 deaths in the state. 18.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.6% were from cancer and 6.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.2% 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 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 27, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 20, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 100 | 120 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 94 | 102 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 27 | 30 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 25 | 17 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 20 | 12 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 20 | 13 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 15 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 14 | 16 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 11 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 27, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 20, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 44 | 38 |
