In the week ending Dec. 3, there were 587 deaths in the state. 23.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.5% were from cancer and 8.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.3% 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.
Nevada top 10 causes of death in week ending Dec. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 137 | 23.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 97 | 16.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 33 | 5.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 27 | 4.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 26 | 4.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 26 | 4.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 24 | 4.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 21 | 3.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 3.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.7 |
Nevada Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 49 | 8.3 |
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