There were 10 deaths with Alzheimer’s disease listed as the underlying cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending May 14, 2022, a 28.6% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending May 14, 2022, there were 340 deaths in the state. 20.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.5% were from cancer and 4.4% 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 | Deaths in Week Ending May 14, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending May 7, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 71 | 79 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 56 | 73 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 27 | 32 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 15 | < 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 12 | 17 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 10 | 14 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | 13 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
