In the week ending Dec. 24, there were 479 deaths in the state. 20.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.1% were from cancer and 9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.8% 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. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 101 | 21.1 |
| Heart disease | 99 | 20.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 28 | 5.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 23 | 4.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 21 | 4.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 20 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | 3.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 14 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.1 |
Nevada Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 47 | 9.8 |
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