There were 46 deaths from Alzheimer’s disease reported in Arizona in the week ending July 16, making up 4.5% of total deaths by all causes in Arizona, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending July 16, there were 1,015 deaths in the state. 19.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.2% were from cancer and 8.2% were from COVID-19.
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.
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 205 | 20.2 |
| Heart disease | 202 | 19.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 52 | 5.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 51 | 5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 48 | 4.7 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 46 | 4.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 37 | 3.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 35 | 3.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 1.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1 |
