In the week ending March 12, there were 486 deaths in the state. 20.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 15.6% were from cancer and 16.3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.1% 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.
Arkansas top 10 causes of death in week ending March 12
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 12 | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 101 | 139 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 76 | 92 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 42 | 57 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 38 | 39 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 37 | 49 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 32 | 23 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 26 | 27 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 31 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | 18 |
Arkansas Dementia deaths in week ending March 12
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 12 | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 44 | 55 |
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