In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 657 deaths in the state. 25% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19% were from cancer and 7.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.4% 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 Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 164 | 25 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 125 | 19 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 44 | 6.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 32 | 4.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 31 | 4.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 27 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 22 | 3.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 20 | 3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 19 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 13 | 2 |
Arkansas Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 68 | 10.4 |
Alerts Sign-up