In the week ending Oct. 29, 2022, there were 683 deaths in the state. 25% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.9% were from cancer and 4.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.9% 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 Oct. 29, 2022
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 29, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 22, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 171 | 138 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 129 | 131 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 46 | 64 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 34 | 24 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 24 | 26 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 22 | 25 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 12 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 11 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 11 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | 13 |
Arkansas Dementia deaths in week ending Oct. 29, 2022
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 29, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 22, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 61 | 57 |
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