In the week ending Nov. 5, there were 665 deaths in the state. 20.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.6% were from cancer and 3.3% 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.
Arkansas top 10 causes of death in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 137 | 20.6 |
| Heart disease | 136 | 20.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 32 | 4.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 32 | 4.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 31 | 4.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 25 | 3.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 17 | 2.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | 2.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 12 | 1.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 10 | 1.5 |
Arkansas Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 65 | 9.8 |
Alerts Sign-up