In the week ending Dec. 24, there were 614 deaths in the state. 29.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16% were from cancer and 5.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9% 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. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 183 | 29.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 98 | 16 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 52 | 8.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 26 | 4.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 26 | 4.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 23 | 3.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 22 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 22 | 3.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 2.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | 2.1 |
Arkansas Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 55 | 9 |
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